a stitch in time (saves nine)

idiom

used to say that it is better to fix a problem when it is small than to wait and let it become a bigger problem

Examples of a stitch in time (saves nine) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The duo’s creator and forever naughty guiding light, Mike Judge, flows the characters into the present day without a hitch in style or a stitch in time. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 June 2022 So telling a story about how a stitch in time saves nine, for instance, will likely be more effective in motivating people to adopt a new preventive maintenance system than simply relaying facts. Andy Bird, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2022

Browse Nearby Entries

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“A stitch in time (saves nine).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20stitch%20in%20time%20%28saves%20nine%29. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!