25 Great French Proverbs, Sayings and Idioms — and Their Meanings

16. Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.
Literal translation: Don't sell the bear's skin before you've killed it.
Meaning: Don't count your chickens before they've hatched. Don't celebrate or plan around a result that hasn't been achieved yet. A vivid and very French warning against overconfidence.