Meanings
proverb
- When faced with a difficult decision, it is better not to take unnecessary risks.
Synonyms: when in doubt, abstain, when in doubt, leave it out
Synonyms & antonyms
proverbWhen faced with a difficult decision, it is better not to take unnecessary risks.
Similar
when in doubt, abstainwhen in doubt, leave it out
Origin
nowt is a dialectal form of nought, used here for the rhyme.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish jos et tiedä, mitä teet, älä tee mitään
- jos et tiedä, mitä teet, älä tee mitäänit is better not to take risks
French dans le doute, abstiens-toi
- dans le doute, abstiens-toiit is better not to take risks
Italian nel dubbio astieniti
- nel dubbio astienitiit is better not to take risks
Polish nie ryzykuj niepotrzebnie
- nie ryzykuj niepotrzebnieit is better not to take risks
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with when in doubt, do nowt
aboutoutwithoutthroughoutroutedoubtscoutshoutdroughtbouttoutstoutspoutgoutcloutgroutsproutdevoutroutpoutrerouteloutumlautstrout
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
when in doubt, do nowt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/when%20in%20doubt%2C%20do%20nowt
MLA
“when in doubt, do nowt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/when%20in%20doubt%2C%20do%20nowt. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “when in doubt, do nowt,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/when%20in%20doubt%2C%20do%20nowt.
Source: when in doubt, do nowt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.