To leave well enough alone In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "to leave well enough alone", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Caroline Tran

2021-04-05 01:04

Meaning of To leave well enough alone

Synonyms:

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It , let well enough alone , never change a running system

To leave well enough alone phrase verb informal

Try to avoid to change something because doing something else could make things worse

I could do it again, but I decided to leave well enough alone.

I should have left well enough alone, but I didn't. As a result, my project was damaged by myself.

Other phrases about:

move on to bigger/better things

To become better

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

As a person's power increases, his or her sense of morality lessens.

tailor (something) to (someone or something)

To revise, adapt, or customize something to fit someone or something

accommodate (someone's) wishes

To change a situation to fit in with one's wishes or needs

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

If you see something is functioning adequately well, you should not try to correct, fix, or improve it.

Grammar and Usage of To leave well enough alone

Verb Forms

leaves well enough alone
leaving well enough alone
left well enough alone

The verb "leave" should be conjugated according to its tense.

Origin of To leave well enough alone

The story of this phrase is derived from ancient Greek times, specifically Aesop's fable. It's about a fox who refused a hedgehog's offer to take out its ticks lest, by removing those that are full, other hungry ones will replace them. It was first recorded in 1827.