one swallow does not make a summer

one swallow does not make a summer

One piece of evidence does not mean that something is definitely the case or is going to happen. A reference to the migration of swallows that happens in the spring or early summer. A lot of things went right for us this year, but one swallow does not make a summer—we still have a long ways to go before our finances are back in order. A: "I'm really worried the boss is going to fire me. He said he really wasn't happy with my work lately!" B: "Calm down, one swallow doesn't make a summer."See also: does, make, not, one, summer, swallow

One swallow does not make a summer,

 and One swallow does not a summer make.Prov. You should not assume that something is true just because you have seen one piece of evidence for it. Amanda: I got a good grade on this quiz! My troubles in school are over. Nancy: One swallow does not a summer make.See also: does, make, not, one, summer, swallow

one swallow doesn't make a summer

You say one swallow doesn't make a summer to mean that although something good has happened, the situation may not continue to be good, and you cannot rely on it. Sales in December were up about 1 percent, which of course, is good news. One swallow, however, doesn't make a summer and it remains to be seen whether they can maintain this growth in the difficult months ahead. Note: People often use the more literary phrase one swallow does not a summer make. One swallow does not a summer make, but a visit to the Hotel Metropole in Ipswich goes a long way to improving that city's reputation. Note: Swallows are a type of bird. The reference here is to the arrival of swallows in Europe at the beginning of summer, after spending the winter further south. See also: make, one, summer, swallow

one swallow doesn't make a summer

a single fortunate event does not mean that what follows will also be good. proverb 1998 Spectator One swallow doesn't make a summer…nor one instance of police dereliction of duty, incompetence, laziness and stupidity a complete breakdown in law and order. See also: make, one, summer, swallow

one ˌswallow doesn’t make a ˈsummer

(saying) you must not take too seriously a small sign that something is happening or will happen in the future: ‘We got a big order from Sweden this morning. Things are getting better.’ ‘One swallow doesn’t make a summer, you know. Don’t be too optimistic.’This expression refers to the fact that swallows (= small birds with a tail with two points) spend the winter in Africa but fly to northern countries for the summer.See also: make, one, summer, swallow

one swallow does not make a summer

A single portent or element of something does not mean the totality is here. This ancient adage, known already in Greek times, may come from one of Aesop’s fables. A swallow emerges on a warmer-than-usual winter day, and a young man, seeing it, sells his warm cloak and spends the proceeds on drink and carousing. The following week, the weather turns cold again, and he, shivering without his cloak, discovers that one swallow did not mean summer had arrived. Appearing in many proverb collections and in numerous languages, along with numerous variants (One grain does not fill a sack, one actor cannot make a play, and the like), the term was defined by George Pettie in 1576: “As one swallow does not make sommer, so one particularity concludeth no generality.”See also: does, make, not, one, summer, swallow