waste not, want not

waste not, want not
Want is variously used in the senses ‘lack’ and ‘desire’. Another proverb making the connection between waste and want is wilful waste makes woeful want.

1772 WESLEY Letter 10 Aug. (1931) V. 334 He will waste nothing; but he must want nothing.

1872 T. HARDY Under Greenwood Tree I. I. viii. Helping her to vegetable she didn’t want, and when it had nearly alighted on her plate, taking it across for his own use, on the plea of waste not, want not.

1941 C. MACKENZIE Red Tapeworm xxii. ‘The lorry’s full of children as well as rubbish.’.. ‘And what is printed on the banner?’.. ‘Waste Not Want Not.’

2002 Washington Times 8 Apr. B5 Your cousin was a practical woman. ‘Waste not, want not.’


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  • waste not, want not — mainly spoken phrase used for saying that people who do not waste things always have enough Thesaurus: to waste or misuse a thing or opportunitysynonym Main entry: waste * * * proverb if you use a commodity or resource carefully and without… …   Useful english dictionary

  • waste not, want not — If you don t waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • waste not, want not — ► waste not, want not proverb if you use a commodity or resource carefully and without extravagance you will never be in need. Main Entry: ↑waste …   English terms dictionary

  • waste not, want not — if you do not waste, you will not be needy    Melinda s motto is Waste Not, Want Not. She s very efficient …   English idioms

  • waste not, want not — mainly spoken used for saying that people who do not waste things always have enough …   English dictionary

  • waste not, want not —    If you don t waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Waste not, want not —   If you don t waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • waste — ► VERB 1) use carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose. 2) fail to make full or good use of. 3) (be wasted on) be unappreciated by. 4) (often waste away) become progressively weaker and more emaciated. 5) literary lay waste to. 6) …   English terms dictionary

  • want — [wänt, wônt] vt. [ME wanten < ON vanta, to be lacking, want: see WANT the n.] 1. to have too little of; be deficient in; lack 2. to be short by (a specified amount) [it wants twelve minutes of midnight] 3. to feel the need of; long for; crave… …   English World dictionary

  • waste — waste1 W3S2 [weıst] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(bad use)¦ 2 go to waste 3 be a waste of time/money/effort etc 4¦(unwanted materials)¦ 5 a waste of space 6¦(land)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Sense: 1 5; Date: 1200 1300; Origin: WASTE2] [ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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