bird in the hand

Idioms  

1. A benefit available now is more valuable than some possibly larger future benefit. For example, Bob thinks he might do better in a bigger firm, but his wife insists he should stay, saying a bird in the hand. This expression, which in full is A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, was an ancient Greek proverb. It was well known in English by about 1400 and has been repeated so frequently that it is often shortened.

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Example Sentences

But, so far at least, the speculative fervor visible in markets hasn’t translated into investors in big listed companies abandoning their preference for a bird in the hand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025

One commenter immediately chided the Argonauts fan, saying a championship bird in the hand is better than two potential future ones in the bush.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2022

A bird in the hand beats two in the bush, and all that.

From Washington Post • Jun. 2, 2022

My agent said, “A bird in the hand, you do the five-picture deal because out of those there’s bound to be choices.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2020

“Agreed. Better safe than sorry. Look before you leap. A stitch in time, a bird in the hand, a sneeze in the wind, yes?”

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el