Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

first catch your hare

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.63 in modern English

Syllables: first -catch y-our hare
IPA

34

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

3

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

Make sure you have a thing before you decide what to do with it.

Example Sentences

"Have you never thought of marrying again? […] Mr. Gibson had thought of this advice several times since it was given; but it was a case of "first catch your hare." Where was the "sensible and agreeable woman of thirty or so?""

Etymology

Supposedly from an error in The Art of Cookery by Hannah Glasse, where "catch" should have read "case" (i.e. remove the skin); however, this is apocryphal.

Questions

What does first catch your hare mean?: Make sure you have a thing before you decide what to do with it.
Where does first catch your hare come from?: Supposedly from an error in The Art of Cookery by Hannah Glasse, where "catch" should have read "case" (i.e. remove the skin); however, this is apocryphal.

How to pronounce first catch your hare

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