Meanings
alternative if it ain't broken, don't fix it
- It is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that is the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).
I know it’s an ugly-looking antenna, but it gets the job done, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Synonyms: don't mess with success, if it ain't busted, don't fix it, leave well enough alone, if it works, it works
Synonyms & antonyms
proverbIt is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that is the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).
Origin
Attested since c. 1962, originally Southern United States English; popularized by T. Bert Lance in May 1977.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 東西沒壞就別修它 /东西没坏就别修它
- 東西沒壞就別修它 /东西没坏就别修它 (dōngxi méi huài jiù bié xiū tā)leave something alone
Finnish älä korjaa sitä, mikä ei ole rikki
- älä korjaa sitä, mikä ei ole rikkileave something alone
French on ne change pas une équipe qui gagne
- on ne change pas une équipe qui gagneleave something alone
German ist es nicht hin, mach es nicht heil, repariere nichts, was nicht kaputt ist
- ist es nicht hin, mach es nicht heilleave something alone
- repariere nichts, was nicht kaputt istleave something alone
Hebrew מה שעובד ־ לא נוגעים, אם זה לא מקולקל, אל תתקן
- מה שעובד ־ לא נוגעיםleave something alone
- אם זה לא מקולקל, אל תתקןleave something alone
Hindi जो चीज़ खराब नहीं है उसे ठीक ना करें
- जो चीज़ खराब नहीं है उसे ठीक ना करें (jo cīz kharāb nahī̃ hai use ṭhīk nā karẽ)leave something alone
Hungarian ha nincs baja, ne javítsd meg
- ha nincs baja, ne javítsd megleave something alone
Italian finché la barca va, lasciala andare, cavallo che vince non si cambia
- finché la barca va, lasciala andareleave something alone
- cavallo che vince non si cambialeave something alone
Japanese 角を矯めて牛を殺す
- 角を矯めて牛を殺す (tsuno-wo-tamete ushi-wo-korosu)leave something alone
Polish nie szukaj dziury w całym
- nie szukaj dziury w całymleave something alone
Portuguese em time que está ganhando, não se mexe
- em time que está ganhando, não se mexeleave something alone
Spanish si funciona, no lo toques
- si funciona, no lo toquesleave something alone
Swedish om det inte är trasigt, fixa det inte
- om det inte är trasigt, fixa det inteleave something alone
Ukrainian не зла́мано - не ладна́й
- не зла́мано - не ладна́й (ne zlámano - ne ladnáj)leave something alone
Cite this entry
if it ain't broke, don't fix it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20ain't%20broke%2C%20don't%20fix%20it
“if it ain't broke, don't fix it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20ain't%20broke%2C%20don't%20fix%20it. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if it ain't broke, don't fix it,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20ain't%20broke%2C%20don't%20fix%20it.
Source: if it ain't broke, don't fix it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.