A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush
Meaning
It is best to accept a minor real reward than the opportunity of a bigger one.
Origin of this phrase
It is believed to be in use from 13th century though in a different form. Ecclesiastes IX – A living dog is better than a dead lion.
Another version of this came in the 16th century when John Heywood recorded “Better one byrde in hande than ten in the wood.”
The latest form of the phrase came into existence somewhere in the 18th century. It was a directory of British folk ballads – The Vocal Magazine: Or, Compleat British Songster, 1781. In this it appears in the lyric of a song entitled ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.