Look before you leap

Cultural  

1. We should know what we are getting into before we commit ourselves.

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look before you leap Idioms  

1. Think of the consequences before you act, as in You'd better check out all the costs before you buy a cellular phone—look before you leap. This expression alludes to Aesop's fable about the fox who is unable to climb out of a well and persuades a goat to jump in. The fox then climbs on the goat's horns to get out, while the goat remains trapped. [c. 1350]

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Example Sentences

However, you’ll need to look before you leap when buying raw land or a developed vacant building lot.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2021

The lesson: look before you leap after the headlines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then, my boy, always remember to look before you leap, and not to let go one rope before you have a firm gripe of another.

From Salt Water The Sea Life and Adventures of Neil D'Arcy the Midshipman by Lacey, C. J. de

He had come to know that it is best to make sure of your ground, in a measure, at least, before taking too much for granted—to look before you leap, so to speak.

From Truxton King A Story of Graustark by McCutcheon, George Barr

Now, Bella," said Mr. Boffin, "look before you leap.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 03 — Fiction by Mee, Arthur