Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.

Too Soon (Premature)

Boil not the pap until the child is born.

Don’t climb the hill until you get to it.

Don’t cry fried fish before they are caught.Italian.

Don’t cry herrings till they are in the net.Dutch.

Don’t cry hurrah till you’re over the bridge.German, Dutch.

Don’t curse the crocodile’s mother before you cross the river.West African.

Don’t divide the spoil until the victory is won.Tamil.

Don’t fly till your wings are feathered.German.

Don’t halloo until you are out of the wood.

Don’t pick me up before I fall down.

Don’t sell the bear skin before you have killed the bear.Italian, German, Dutch.

Don’t snap your fingers at the dog before you are out of the village.French.

Don’t sing your triumph before you have conquered.Latin.

Don’t throw away your dirty water till you have got clean.Irish.

Don’t throw away your old shoes till you have got new ones.Dutch.

Do not strip before bed-time.French.

Gut nae fish till ye git them.

He counts his chickens before they are hatched.Dutch.

He cries out before he is hurt.Italian.

He passes sentence before he hears the evidence.

He wants to fly before he has wings.Dutch.

It will not do to keep holidays before they come.French.

To swallow gudgeons ere they’re catched,
And count their chickens ere they’re hatched.Butler.

To take physic before one is sick.

You cry out before you are hurt.

You halt before you are lame.

You take me up before I am down.

We have no son and yet are giving him a name.