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idiom

The road to hell is paved with good intentions

thuh ROHD tuh HEL iz PAYVD with GOOD in-TEN-shunz

/ðə roʊd tə hɛl ɪz peɪvd wɪð ɡʊd ɪnˈtɛnʃənz/

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Syllable breakdown

theroadtohellispavedwithgoodintentions

Dictionary meaning

A proverb warning that good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes, and that well-meaning actions can still cause harm if not carefully thought through.

Examples

  • The aid programme had disastrous unintended consequences — the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
  • Before launching the initiative, they recalled the old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

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