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Explaining "A little learning is a dangerous thing"
Reviewed and edited by 
Anwar Kareem 08/03/2025, 09:44
Anwar Kareem 08/03/2025, 09:44English.me team member
What does it mean?
The phrase "A little learning is a dangerous thing" suggests that having incomplete or superficial knowledge about a subject can lead to overconfidence and mistakes. When someone knows just a little, they might believe they understand more than they actually do, which can result in poor judgments or errors.
Tone
Cautionary and advisory
Origin
The phrase originates from Alexander Pope's poem "An Essay on Criticism," published in 1711, where he warns about the risks of shallow understanding.
Examples of usage
- He read one article about car repair and thought he could fix his engine himself, but a little learning is a dangerous thing.
- She tried to diagnose her illness after reading a few online posts; a little learning is a dangerous thing.
- They assumed they could negotiate the contract without a lawyer's help, forgetting that a little learning is a dangerous thing.
Phrases
