Is it okay to say "shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched" when you're writing about--let's say a girl who lied about something because she thought she was going to get in trouble or something? Because usually it's when someone thinks about the future and not the present that people say that.
Is it okay???
2007-11-16 12:19:13 · 5 answers · asked by KirriKirriKoo 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
No, that cliche does not apply to the situation you described.
Counting chickens before they hatch could be applied to someone who thinks they're going to win a big cash prize, so they buy lots of expensive stuff without considering the consequences of what might happen if they don't win the cash.
Try looking for proverbs about lying. You may get some creative moral gems from those stories.
2007-11-16 12:22:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. It means don't expect something (usually nice) to happen and act accordingly. Obviously getting into trouble isn't.
Another problem with using "shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched" is that it's become a bit of a cliche. As a writer you're expecting to come up with an expression more original than that. :)
2007-11-16 12:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by ThinkingPerson 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When u say shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched, looks like the person is advising someone. Like in this dialogue:
"See Anne, I told you. You were not prepared for the test. You shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched. Call up and cancel the reservation."
I cannot see how does it suit the situation you described.
TW K
2007-11-17 02:42:30 · answer #3 · answered by TW K 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it makes much sense to say it in that context. "shouldn't have counted your chickens before they hatched" is more appropriate if you were talking about someone bragging about something, and then it doesn't come true....basically not waiting until something is certain before taking action on it. Hope this helps.
2007-11-16 12:24:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any accomplished writer will shun the use of clichés and trite expressions in their stories unless it is the very topic of discussion. Even so, caution should be exercised.
Thumbs-downer: ? Have you written and published a piece bearing clichés and trite expressions? On that thought, any vanity publisher will do so.
2007-11-16 12:25:56 · answer #5 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋