it is easy to be wise after the event

proverb

After one has seen the consequences of a decision, it is easy to tell whether or not the decision was favorable, but it is also too late, since the consequences have already occurred.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. After one has seen the consequences of a decision, it is easy to tell whether or not the decision was favorable, but it is also too late, since the consequences have already occurred.

    Tuchel may wonder whether he should have kept the unbeatable Mendy on for penalties after his heroic performance but it is easy to be wise after the event and Kepa has proved his quality from penalties in the past.

    2022 February 27, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport
Cite this entry
APA

it is easy to be wise after the event. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it%20is%20easy%20to%20be%20wise%20after%20the%20event

MLA

“it is easy to be wise after the event.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it%20is%20easy%20to%20be%20wise%20after%20the%20event. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “it is easy to be wise after the event,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it%20is%20easy%20to%20be%20wise%20after%20the%20event.

Source: it is easy to be wise after the event on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.