Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

perfect is the enemy of good

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.57 in modern English

Syllables: per-fec-t is the en-e-my of -good
IPA

43

Scrabble Score

23

Letters

6

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.

proverb

Insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement through compromises.

Etymology

A variant of the older the best is the enemy of the good, popularized by Voltaire in French as le mieux est l'ennemi du bien, itself a translation of the Italian proverb il meglio è nemico del bene.

Origin

Source language: Italian

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Inflected Forms

the perfect is the enemy of the good (alternative)

Phrases

make the perfect the enemy of the good let the perfect be the enemy of the good half a loaf is better than none leave well enough alone

Frequently Paired Words

half a loaf is better than none leave well enough alone

Synonyms

better is the enemy of good perfection is the enemy of good perfect is the enemy of good enough the best is the enemy of the good the better is the enemy of the good

Questions

What does perfect is the enemy of good mean?: Insistence on perfection often precludes the opportunity for something worthwhile.
Where does perfect is the enemy of good come from?: It is traced to Italian.

How to pronounce perfect is the enemy of good

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