English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
A miss is as good as a mile
Meaning
The idiom "a miss is as good as a mile" means that it's better to miss something than to get it wrong or make a mistake, especially if the consequences of getting it wrong are severe. It suggests that missing an opportunity or failing to accomplish a task can often be less painful than making a mistake and regretting it later.
Usage
- "It's better to miss out on the chance to win the lottery than to lose money because you bought the wrong numbers."
- "I had to miss the concert because I got stuck in traffic. It was frustrating, but at least I won't have to hear terrible music tonight."
- "The doctor told me that it would be safer for me to miss my appointment this week than to risk getting COVID-19."
- "I made a mistake on the math problem and got a zero, but I don't think it will affect my grade too much since one missed question won't make or break it."
- "If you fail the interview, it's not the end of the world. You can always miss out on that opportunity and apply for another job that suits your skills better."
Roots and History
The idiom "a miss is as good as a mile" has been used in English since at least the 15th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The earliest known use of the phrase was recorded in a collection of proverbs by John Heywood in 1546, where he wrote: "Better never miss than fail." This idiom likely originated as a way to encourage people not to take unnecessary risks or make hasty decisions that could lead to disappointment. Over time, the meaning and usage of this idiom have evolved to reflect changes in society and language. For example, the phrase has been used more often in recent years to describe situations where missing an opportunity is less painful than making a mistake. Additionally, regional variations of the phrase exist, such as "a miss is better than two miles."
Synonyms in English
- Better safe than sorry
- One missed chance is another
- You miss 100% of the shots you don't take
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
- No harm, no foul
Synonyms in other languages
- French: "Une erreur n'est pas un malheur" (One error is not a misfortune)
- Spanish: "Perder una oportunidad es mejor que fallar" (Losing an opportunity is better than failing)
- Italian: "Mai meglio male che male" (It's always better to miss something than to get it wrong)
- German: "Es geht mir gar nicht um fehlgeschlagene Pläne, ich gehe mit dem Leben davon aus, dass ich sie alle verwande" (I don't care about failed plans, I go through life assuming that I will use them all)
- Japanese: "失敗はあるかただけにおけない" (Failure is only in failure)