idiom
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
prih-VEN-shun iz BET-er than kyoor
/prɪˈvɛnʃən ɪz ˈbɛtər ðæn kjʊər/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
preventionisbetterthancure
Dictionary meaning
It is wiser and more cost-effective to stop something harmful from happening than to deal with the consequences after the fact
History and origin
Attributed to Desiderius Erasmus (c.1500) in Latin: 'Principiis obsta'; popularised in English medicine; Hippocrates expressed similar ideas
Examples
- The public health campaign focused on diet and exercise, reflecting the principle that prevention is better than cure.
- In cybersecurity, prevention is better than cure — regular patching avoids costly breaches.
Synonyms: prophylaxis, an ounce of prevention
People also look up
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UN-der the WETH-er
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