“If you want a thing done well, do it yourself”: meaning and examples
What it means
This phrase means that if you want a task to be done to your satisfaction or done correctly, it’s often best to do it yourself rather than relying on others.
Tone Practical and slightly skeptical
Examples
- After several disappointing repairs by the mechanic, Jake decided, ‘If you want a thing done well, do it yourself,’ and fixed his car on his own.
- Maria learned to bake her own bread because she believed that if you want a thing done well, do it yourself.
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