Haste makes waste

Meaning

The idiom "haste makes waste" means that rushing to complete a task can often result in mistakes and errors, leading to a greater amount of time and effort being wasted overall.

Usage

• I try to avoid making hasty decisions at work because it usually leads to mistakes and wasted resources.
• When we took the shortcut through the construction site, we ended up getting lost and had to backtrack, causing us to be late for our meeting.
• After hearing about their grandfather's stroke, the family rushed to see him in the hospital but missed his passing by an hour.
• The student who crammed for the exam without studying effectively failed miserably on test day.
• Trying to save money by cutting corners often results in a lower quality product and wasted resources in the long run.

Roots and History

The phrase has been used since at least the 16th century, with an early recorded use appearing in a collection of proverbs in 1570. The idiom likely originated from the idea that rushing to complete a task can lead to mistakes, which ultimately result in more time and effort being wasted than if the task had been completed carefully and methodically.

Synonyms in English

• Haste makes haste (meaning the same as "haste makes waste")
• Actions speak louder than words
• Slow and steady wins the race
• Measure twice, cut once
• All good things come to those who wait

Synonyms in other languages

• 速いは速いのより安くなる (Japanese) - "Being too quick can sometimes lead to mistakes"
• לא יותגן משקעה מדכים בנים יברוך אצל אחים (Hebrew) - "I will not pay my debts in haste"
• لهات النجاح العليه من المجذوبين (Arabic) - "Success is for the patient and persistent ones"

Similar Idioms

• home is where the heart is

• hook, line, and sinker

• head start