not count one’s chickens before they are hatched —(usually imper.) not anticipate some expected benefit because it may not happen:
- You’re expecting to make a lot of money but don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
not cross one’s bridges before one comes to them—(usually imper.) not worry unnecessarily about future problems until they happen:
- Don’t cross your bridges before you come to them—but you’ll recollect that a stitch in time saves nine.