en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "Nothing ventured, nothing gained"

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 05/12/2024, 13:25
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

The proverb "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" means that taking risks is necessary to achieve success or make significant progress. Without putting something on the line, whether it's time, effort, or resources, one cannot expect to gain rewards or reach desired goals.

Tone

Motivational and encouraging

Origin

The phrase has its roots in English proverbs, with early versions dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a translation of an old French proverb: "Qui ne risque rien, n’a rien" (Who risks nothing, has nothing).

Examples of usage

  • She hesitated to invest in her idea, but her mentor reminded her, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
  • I was nervous about applying for the job, but I told myself, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," and submitted my resume.
  • If we don’t propose our solution to the client, we won’t know if they’ll like it—nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Recommended posts in Phrases

All is well that ends well

All is well that ends well

The phrase "All is well that ends well" means that ... Learn more →

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword

The proverb "He who lives by the sword, dies by ... Learn more →

Out of sight, out of mind

Out of sight, out of mind

The phrase means that if something or someone is not ... Learn more →

False friends are worse than open enemies

False friends are worse than open enemies

The phrase means that people who pretend to be your ... Learn more →