an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

proverb It is much better to know when to refrain from speaking than to have the ability to make jokes or witty remarks, which may come at an inappropriate time or be about an inappropriate subject. Now's not the time for one of your lewd jokes, Frank. Didn't anyone ever teach you that an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit? Hey, if the boss is clearly angry, it's not a good time to transform into a stand-up comedian. Geez, an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit! I like to use humor to defuse tension, but even I know that an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit!

See also: an, discretion, of, ounce, pound, wit, worth

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

Prov. Knowing when to refrain from making jokes is better than being able to make jokes all the time. Mabel makes fun of everybody, regardless of whether or not she hurts their feelings. Someone should tell her that an ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit.

See also: discretion, of, ounce, pound, wit, worth

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.