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Region: General | Usage example: Stop staring at the inbox; a watched pot never boils.

A watched pot never boils

Meaning

Time seems to crawl when you anxiously wait for something to happen.

Usage

Told to someone who is fretting over a slow result.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

An early proverb about cooking, reminding people to be patient.

Appeared in print in the 17th century, often in advice books about patience.

Related Idioms

Better late than never

Doing something after the ideal time is still better than failing to do it at all.

Lightning never strikes twice

Very rare events usually don't repeat.

A blessing in disguise

Something that initially seems bad but turns out to be positive.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.