Explaining "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 04/10/2024, 01:04

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase suggests that if something is working well or is not problematic, there is no need to change or try to improve it.

Tone

Pragmatic and cautionary

Origin

The exact origin is unclear, but it became popular in the United States in the 1970s. It is often attributed to Bert Lance, a government official during the Carter administration, who used a similar expression.

Examples of usage

We've been using this system for years without issues; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The car runs fine as it is, so let's not tinker with it unnecessarily—if it ain't broke, don't fix it.