proverb🎓 English idiom

the early bird catches the worm

those who act early gain the advantage

What it means

Those who act early or arrive first gain an advantage over those who delay. It encourages promptness, preparation, and getting started before others do.

Examples

  • I always shop on the first sale day; the early bird catches the worm.
  • She arrived an hour early for the interview, knowing the early bird catches the worm.
  • Apply now, because the early bird catches the worm with these scholarships.
  • He books holidays months ahead; the early bird catches the worm, after all.

Where it comes from

This proverb has been recorded in English since at least the 1600s, appearing in early collections of proverbs as a lesson on the rewards of rising and acting early.

Related idioms

#miss the boat#jump the gun#cry wolf#put the cart before the horse

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