What does "don't count your chickens before they hatch" mean — and why is it funny?

informal

Meaning

Do not assume something will succeed, or rely on it, before it has actually happened.

Where it comes from

An old proverb, traced to Aesop's fables. Not every egg becomes a chicken, so counting them early is foolish.

Why it is funny

The gentle humor is the picture of premature pride. You imagine someone happily tallying up a whole flock while standing over a basket of eggs that are still, stubbornly, just eggs.

Used in a sentence

"You haven't got the job yet — don't count your chickens."