if it ain't broke, don't fix it

if it ain't broke, don't fix it proverb: it is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that is the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).

Proverb

if it ain't broke, don't fix it

It is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that is the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).
- I know it’s an ugly-looking antenna, but it gets the job done, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Synonyms:

don't mess with success, if it ain't busted, don't fix it, leave well enough alone, if it works, it works

if it ain't broke, don't fix it meaning in Hindi

if it ain't broke, don't fix it in Hindi

leave something alone: जो चीज़ खराब नहीं है उसे ठीक ना करें jo cīz kharāb nahī̃ hai use ṭhīk nā karẽ

Synonyms of if it ain't broke, don't fix it

Forms of if it ain't broke, don't fix it

alternative form	if it ain't broken, don't fix it

Origin of if it ain't broke, don't fix it

Attested since c. 1962, originally Southern United States English; popularized by T. Bert Lance in May 1977.

Questions about if it ain't broke, don't fix it

What does if it ain't broke, don't fix it mean?: If it ain't broke, don't fix it means it is wise to leave something alone and to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient (often with an implication that is the attempted improvement is risky and might backfire).
What is if it ain't broke, don't fix it in Hindi?: If it ain't broke, don't fix it in Hindi is जो चीज़ खराब नहीं है उसे ठीक ना करें (jo cīz kharāb nahī̃ hai use ṭhīk nā karẽ). See If it ain't broke, don't fix it meaning in Hindi.
What part of speech is if it ain't broke, don't fix it?: If it ain't broke, don't fix it is a proverb.

Words near if it ain't broke, don't fix it in the dictionary

Adapted from Wiktionary: if it ain't broke, don't fix it (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Cite this entry: “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/if_it_ain%27t_broke%2C_don%27t_fix_it. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.