check yourself before you wreck yourself

Questions

What does check yourself before you wreck yourself mean?

Consider the consequences of your actions before you end up in trouble.

Where does check yourself before you wreck yourself come from?

Chosen for the rhyme. Cliche made popularized by the song "Check Yo Self" (1993) by hip hop artist Ice Cube. Older sources include Dion's Song "Two Ton Feather" (1966) with the lyric "Check yourself, don't wreck yourself."

How to pronounce check yourself before you wreck yourself

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “check yourself before you wreck yourself”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “check yourself before you wreck yourself”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “check yourself before you wreck yourself” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.