Forewarned is forearmed

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Grammarist

Forewarned is forearmed is a proverb that is hundreds of years old. We will examine the meaning of the proverb forewarned is forearmed, where the expression came from, and some examples of its use in sentences.

Forewarned is forearmed is a proverb that means if you know what is coming, you can prepare for it. Forewarned is forearmed means that one is not taken by surprise, that one is equipped to counter an argument, fix a problem, or otherwise mitigate a problem. The phrase forewarned is forearmed came into use in the 1500s to speak about military tactics, though is was soon used in other circumstances. The Latin phrase praemonitus, praemunitus may be loosely translated as forewarned is forearmed; many believe this is the origin of the proverb.

Examples

“I think the exercises led to some important insights, one being that forewarned is forearmed; in all our exercises, events unfolded very quickly in the days after the election, and those who had thought in advance about the ‘what ifs’ were better positioned to succeed than those who had not,” she told Newsweek. (Newsweek)

Forewarned is forearmed, the saying goes, and whether this second wave in Australia crashes through the Hunter with full force is largely up to us all. (The Newcastle Herald)

Forewarned is forearmed: Equipped with continuous assessments across their operations, managers may allocate time and other scarce resources in order to address gaps before problems appear. (Fortune Magazine)