lol at it sounding rude.
A bird in the hand (meaning something you already have, i.e. it's in the palm of your hand already) is worth more than two in the bush (maybe something more valuable or more of this thing, but the thing is further away and you may not be able to get it).
Basically referring to be greatful for what you've got.
2007-03-10 07:43:19
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answer #1
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answered by Deceptive Reality 1
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a bird in the hand is as good as two in the bush.
Its an old saying...It means its better to have a small amount of a for sure thing then a a possible amount of more.
For example its like saying.
Its better to have $1000 and know you have it.
Then take a chance for $2000 when you might not get it. The $1000 is a for sure thing so its in your hand.
There is nothing rude about it.
2007-03-09 17:44:36
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answer #2
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answered by Brandi 2
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I means that the one thing you already have is better than two things you MIGHT get. Be happy with what you have instead of always searching for more that you don't have.
2007-03-09 20:44:49
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Meaning
It's better to have a small actual advantage than the chance of a greater one.
Origin
It isn't until the 19th century that we find the phrase in its currently used form. The earliest I've located is in a US newspaper The Huron Reflector, from January 1833:
"But few persons, so prone are we to grasp at the shadow at the expense of the substance, bear in mind the good old adage, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.'"
This refers to the phrase as old. How long the current version predates 1833 isn't clear, but variations of the phrase have been known for centuries. The earliest English version of the proverb is from the Bible and was translated into English in Wycliffe's version in 1382, although Latin texts have it from the 13th century:
Ecclesiastes IX - A living dog is better than a dead lion.
Alternatives that explicitly mention birds in hand come later. The earliest of those is in Hugh Rhodes' The boke of nurture or schoole of good maners, circa 1530:
"A byrd in hand - is worth ten flye at large."
John Heywood, the 16th century collector of proverbs, recorded another version in his ambitiously titled A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546:
"Better one byrde in hande than ten in the wood."
The Bird in Hand was adopted as a pub name in the UK in the Middle Ages and there are still many pubs of that name there. This refers back to mediaeval falconry where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was certainly worth more than two in the bush (the prey).
The term bird in hand must have been known in the USA by 1734, as that is the date when a small town in Pennsylvania was founded with that name.
2007-03-09 17:44:05
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answer #4
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answered by Ravii 3
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a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush! not rude just saying hang on to what you got rather than take a chance of getting more and maybe losing what you already have!
2007-03-09 17:43:43
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answer #5
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answered by sydneygal 6
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Probably going to crap in it--
Seriously, a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush means it is better to have what you have in your grasp right now-be it happiness money etc- than to count on something that you might have. A sure thing is better than a maybe.
2007-03-09 20:37:20
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answer #6
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answered by rhymer 4
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.... worth two in the bush.
It means what you have is more valuable and worthwhile than what you do not have or what you wish you had. Don't dream about the birds in the bush (which you may never catch), when you have a bird in your hand. Does it make sense?
2007-03-09 17:49:17
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answer #7
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answered by Jacqui Waze 3
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It means it may be wiser to settle for what you have, even though it may be less than what you could possibly get.
(A bird in the hand is caught already. Two in the bush are a better prize, but may get away.)
2007-03-09 17:43:49
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answer #8
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answered by Older&Wiser 5
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a Bird n hand is worth two in a bush. It means what you have in your possession now (Bird captured in your hand) is worth two of what you could get (two in a bush) . This means you are better off with what you've got then risking it to get more.
2007-03-09 17:44:26
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answer #9
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answered by Chaga 4
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Taken in a modern context, it is. In the old days, when people had to get out and get some dinner, it made more sense. Have you ever fed pidgeons? Ever worked at a chicken plant (i.e. Tysons) Yeah, they can keep a bird.
2007-03-09 17:45:40
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answer #10
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answered by boozer 3
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