practice makes perfect

Also found in: Acronyms.

practice makes perfect

Practicing or repeatedly doing something will make one become proficient or skillful at it. A: "I just can't seem to get the rhythm of this song quire right." B: "Keep at it—practice makes perfect!" You can't expect to start a new sport and be amazing at it right away. As is always the case, practice makes perfect.

See also: make, perfect, practice

Practice makes perfect.

Prov. Cliché Doing something over and over again is the only way to learn to do it well. Jill: I'm not going to try to play the piano anymore. I always make so many mistakes. Jane: Don't give up. Practice makes perfect. Child: How come you're so good at peeling potatoes? Father: I did it a lot in the army, and practice makes perfect.

See also: make, perfect, practice

practice makes perfect

Frequently doing something makes one better at doing it, as in I've knit at least a hundred sweaters, but in my case practice hasn't made perfect. This proverbial expression was once put as Use makes mastery, but by 1560 the present form had become established.

See also: make, perfect, practice

practice makes perfect

COMMON People say practice makes perfect to mean that if you practise something enough, you will eventually be able to do it perfectly. It is like learning to ride a bike. You may fall off a few times but practice makes perfect.

See also: make, perfect, practice

practice makes perfect

regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it.

See also: make, perfect, practice

ˌpractice makes ˈperfect

(saying) a way of encouraging people by telling them that if you do an activity regularly you will become very good at it: If you want to learn a language, speak it as much as you can. Practice makes perfect!

See also: make, perfect, practice

References in periodicals archive ?

The multimedia features in Practice Makes Perfect simplify learning a foreign language.

The Learning Company adds more foreign language CDs

PMP Practice Makes Perfect prepares you for taking the grueling 200-question, four-hour PMP exam

Research and Markets: PMP Practice Makes Perfect: over 1000 PMP Practice Questions and Answers

albion rovers 3 CLYDE 0 ROVERS wing king Gary Phillips insisted practice makes perfect after he fired a double to sink Clyde.

albion rovers 3 CLYDE 0 [...]; LEAGUE 1

There's also an element of practice makes perfect when it comes to the perfect pie and it's amazing to have won the judges' approval for a second year".

Top pie man is The One

Having sex 104 times before falling pregnant does sound rather a lot, but as they say, practice makes perfect," the Daily Star quoted Dr Mike Smith, of pregnancy testing kit firm First Response, as saying.

It takes 104 sex-sessions for an average Brit woman to get pregnant

But while Woosie was struggling to find his touch, John Cook was sizzling as he underlined the old adage that practice makes perfect.

Woosie wobbles as Funk sets the pace at US Senior Open

However, it isn't quite true that practice makes perfect.

How to stay calm and get the job

PRACTICE makes perfect, it is said, but for Ruby Walsh lack of fitness rather than talent is the reason for his concerted efforts in the simulated saddle.

Racing: WALSH SADDLES UP IN FIGHT FOR FULL FITNESS

No matter how poised, confident or proficient they may seem, the best networkers got that way by following a basic tenet: practice makes perfect

Power networking: the only way to become a skilled networker is through effort and practice

not sure my is quite up scratch yet but practice makes perfect

MY WEEK PICTURES in

Asda spokesman Jim Viggars said: "Certain dishes can seem daunting but practice makes perfect.

Can't boil an egg? You're not only one

The Bishop Walsh Catholic Secondary School pupil then proved her linguistic skills again as she took first place in the Cantenian speaking competition with a speech about whether practice makes perfect at St Peter's School, in Solihull, on April 21.

Pupil's speech is a winner

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is convinced Cristiano Ronaldo's exceptional form is just a question of practice makes perfect for the young Manchester United winger.

Football: Solskjaer's Ole for revved-up Ronaldo; FOOTBALL: Round-up of yesterday's Premiership action and reaction

A team of firefighters are hoping to prove practice makes perfect when they head off to defend their title as world car crash extrication champions.

Firefighters aim to retain world title

Practice makes perfect - even when you are already as close to it as makes little difference.