English Explanatory Dictionary

hope for the best, prepare for the worst

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. While one should maintain a positive attitude when facing uncertain or challenging circumstances, one should not let this optimism blind them to the need to prepare for the possible hardships which may arise.
verb
  1. To take precautions that may not be necessary in a future situation, while keeping hope that the situation will turn out well so that these precautions would not need to be used.

Word forms

hope for the best, prepare for the worst hope for the best but prepare for the worst hope for the best and prepare for the worst hopes for the best, prepares for the worst hoping for the best, preparing for the worst hoped for the best, prepared for the worst

Related words

better safe than sorry
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
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