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Waste Not, Want Not

What Does "Waste Not, Want Not" Mean?

homeidiomsWaste Not, Want Not
"Waste not, want not" is an English idiom. It means "a proverb suggesting that if one is not wasteful, they will not be in need."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "waste not, want not" used in a sentence:
  • Remember to use everything wisely; waste not, want not.
  • She always taught us the value of conserving resources, reminding us, 'waste not, want not'.
  • By following the principle of 'waste not, want not', he managed to save a lot of money.
meaning for waste not, want not

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Waste Not, Want Not" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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