Explaining "A little learning is a dangerous thing"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 08/03/2025, 09:44

English.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.

Explaining "A little learning is a dangerous thing"

What does it mean?

Tone

Origin

Examples of usage

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