a watched kettle never boils

If you are waiting for something to happen, obsessively checking it does not make it happen faster. A variation on the more common phrase, "a watched pot never boils." Would you stop refreshing the page? The results will be posted soon enough, and a watched kettle never boils!

See also: boil, kettle, never, watch

References in periodicals archive ?

They say a watched kettle never boils - so what if you could bypass the whole kettle part and go straight to the boiled water?

Bring your kitchen into the 21st century

Idioms browser ?

▲
a vexed question
a vicious circle
a viper in (one's) bosom
a viper in your bosom
a voice crying in the wilderness
a voice in the wilderness
a volte-face
a vote of thanks
a waiting game
a wake-up call
a walk in the park
a walk of life
a walking
a walking (something)
a walking dictionary
a walking dictionary, encyclopedia, etc.
a walking disaster
a walking encyclopedia
a war of nerves
a war of words
a war to end all wars
a warning shot across the bows
a waste of breath
a waste of energy
a waste of space
a watched kettle never boils
a watched pot never boils
a weak link
a weak moment
a week from next Tuesday
a week is a long time in politics
a week tomorrow, on Monday, etc.
a week tomorrow/on (some day)/etc.
a week yesterday
a week yesterday, last Monday, etc.
a week yesterday/last (some day)/etc.
a weight off (one's) mind
a weight off your mind
a well-oiled machine
a wet blanket
a whale of a
a whale of a (good) time
a while back
a whipping boy
a whistle-stop tour
a white Christmas
a white elephant
a white knight
a white lie
a whited sepulcher
a whited sepulchre
▼

Full browser ?

▲
a walking something
a wall of silence
a war bride
a war of nerves
a war of words
a war to end all wars
A War Zone
a warhorse
a warm heart
a warm welcome
a warning shot
a warning shot across somebody's bows
a warning shot across the bow
a warning shot across the bows
a warning shot across the bows
a warning shot across the bows
a warning shot across the bows
a warning shot across the bows
a warning shot across the bows
a warning-shot
A Warren Stearns
a warrior ant
a warrior-ant
a wart
a waste of breath
A Waste of Electricity
a waste of energy
a waste of space
A Waste of Talent
A Waste of Time
a watched kettle never boils
A watched pot never boils
a water feature
a wave
a wave
a wave
a wave
a wave
a way
A Way of Life
A Way of Life
A Way to Better Living, Inc.
A way to say ok
A Way With Words Foundation
a weak link
a weak link in the chain
a weak moment
a weaker vessel
a weather breeder
a weather-breeder
A Web Factory
a wedding cake
a wedding-cake
a wedgie
a week
a week (tomorrow/on Monday/Tuesday/etc.)
a week (yesterday/last Monday/Tuesday/etc.)
A week ago
a week from next Tuesday
A week from today
A Week in Paradise
▼

CITE

Site: Follow: Share:

Open / Close