hope for the best and prepare for the worst

hope for the best and prepare for the worst

proverb To have hope that a positive occurrence will happen, while simultaneously readying for a negative outcome. Now that our house is on the market, there's not much we can do but hope for the best and prepare for the worst. We hoped for the best and prepared for the worst when we learned that the hurricane was to make landfall. Since it's impossible to predict the future, all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

See also: and, best, for, hope, prepare, worst

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

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst,

 and Hope for the best but expect the worst.

Prov. You should have a positive attitude, but make sure you are ready for disaster. While my father was in the hospital after his heart attack, we hoped for the best and prepared for the worst. When you study for a major exam, hope for the best but expect the worst. Don't make yourself anxious worrying that it will be too difficult, but review as if you expect the exam to be extremely hard.

See also: and, best, for, hope, prepare, worst

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