“The Early Bird Gets the Worm”
SEVENTEEN — “Left & Right”
💭 Meaning
“The early bird gets the worm” means that those who act early or arrive first gain an advantage over others, i.e., acting on something before others increases your chances of success.
✍️ Examples
Henry always tells students that when it comes to early action deadlines, the early bird really does get the worm.
Henry's client secured the last spot in the competitive summer program simply because the early bird gets the worm.
Henry reminded his nephew that college applications work the same way as internships: the early bird gets the worm.
📜 Origin
The phrase comes from a straightforward observation of nature: birds that wake and start foraging early have first access to worms before other birds (or the worms themselves) become active. The earliest documented use in English dates back to a 1636 proverb collection by John Ray, though the sentiment likely existed in oral tradition even earlier. The phrase became a staple of English proverbs by the 17th century, used to encourage punctuality and proactive effort in everything from work to opportunity-seeking.
