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Explaining "A watched pot never boils."

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 15/11/2024, 17:24
English.me team member

What does it mean?

A watched pot never boils.

The phrase "A watched pot never boils" is a proverb meaning that if you anxiously wait for something to happen, it will seem to take longer.

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Origin

The saying is a proverbial expression dating back to at least the 18th century and is commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin in his publication "Poor Richard's Almanack".

Examples of usage

  • Don't keep checking the mail every hour; remember, a watched pot never boils!
  • He was so eager for the project to succeed that he forgot the lesson of the watched pot never boiling.
  • While waiting for her test results, she reminded herself that a watched pot never boils.

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