2006-10-03 03:36:17 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Other - Arts & Humanities
It's a very old adage, just literally means that it is better to hold on to what you have than to leave it and go looking for a different specie or something else, which in the end (if you do find more than what you had before! very unlikely) you might not just like it. Guess it is better to build on what you have, than to just abandon all and start afresh. This was what people believed in, in those days (like I said in the beginning, a very old adage!).
2006-10-03 03:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by bluebell 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that whatever you are sure of ( a concrete deal ; the bird in the hand) is worth two possibilites that you are not sure of and that may get away from you or never materialize (2 birds in the bush)
2006-10-03 10:48:28 · answer #2 · answered by teplitz39 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree with bistro, if you have the bird it's yours, therefore it's worth more than just knowing there is two birds sitting there in the bush, and although you could go for the birds in the bush you could come back empty handed with one bird or two so the bird in the hand is like taking the safe option because you know what you actualy have even if it's less than what you could have.
2006-10-03 10:41:33 · answer #3 · answered by elf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means if you let the bird in your hand go to catch the 2 in the bush you are likely to not be able to catch either of the 2 and you have lost the one u did have.
2006-10-03 10:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by debra_har 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Be happy with what you have and do not crave for other non-achievable things which are there with others.The ones in the bush may fly off if you try to catch them and at the same time you will also loose the one which you already have...you got it?
2006-10-03 10:41:31 · answer #5 · answered by THE WORRIER 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you have in your posession is worth more than what you only think you may get if you take a chance.
ie: the two birds in the bush may fly away as you try to get them.
2006-10-03 11:54:34 · answer #6 · answered by sweetietw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Something you have for certain now is of more value than something better you may get, especially if you risk losing what you have in order to get it."
The proverb was first recorded in English around 1450, with different wording, but the sentiment can be found in the fables of Aesop in the 6th c. B.C.
2006-10-03 10:44:46 · answer #7 · answered by dontknow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This phrase means that it's better to be satisfied with what you already have than to risk losing it in hopes of gaining something better that you might not be able to obtain.
2006-10-03 10:41:32 · answer #8 · answered by coca_cola_shaped_honey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your hand is better on a bird's bush than in her two hands
2006-10-03 10:44:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It's better to actually have one thing in your possession for definite than it is to see something but not have it, if you know what I mean!
2006-10-03 10:39:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋