a little knowledge is a dangerous thing

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. A limited understanding of a subject can lead individuals to overestimate their expertise, often resulting in errors or misguided decisions due to false confidence.

Word forms

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Etymology

A slight misquotation of Alexander Pope’s a little learning is a dangerous thing. The earliest use dates from a magazine published in 1774.

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