The Early Bird Catches the Worm: Meaning & Origin Revealed

Written by Dayva Segal
Published: February 9, 2023
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The phrase, “The early bird catches the worm,” describes the notion that those who are eager and early are the ones who most succeed. The deeper meaning of the phrase is that those who truly apply themselves to something and make a real effort have a higher likelihood of success.

It derives from the thought that birds who wake up early have their pick of worms (a popular snack for birds). Those that get up later will have to pick through whatever is left to find a good meal.

Sometimes, people also use the phrase, “The early bird gets the worm,” instead of, “The early bird catches the worm.” The two can be used interchangeably and have the same meaning.

Where and when did this saying originate? Keep reading to find out.

Possible Origins of “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”

What do bluebirds eat

The early bird really does catch the worm, it seems.

©iStock.com/mooninwell

The earliest written example of this colloquial saying is from the year 1670. It was published in a book called A Collection of English Proverbs by John Ray. The fact that it was in this book of well-established proverbs at this time shows that it had likely been an important figure of speech in the English language for quite some time before that.

Examples Of Everyday Use of, “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”

This phrase has become an important part of our culture. It is often just shortened to “early bird” as in, early bird specials. These are special menus or prices that restaurants put out to entice people to come earlier. Early bird dinner specials are often available from 4-5 pm. It’s a stereotype that older people enjoy eating earlier, and thus, visit restaurants for early bird specials more than others.

This phrase can describe a time when you arrived early to something to have a good chance at success. For example, if discussing why you went to the store early to be one of the first to purchase a new product, you could tell your friend, “Well, the early bird catches the worm!”

You can also use it to tell someone why you wake up early, or why you show up for work 15 minutes early. Basically, it can be used to describe why you would want to get anywhere early to have the best chances of success.

A Useful Way to Envision the Phrase, “The Early Bird Gets the Worm”

Here is a fictional scenario that can help you to envision when you might want to use the phrase, “The early bird catches the worm.”

Let’s say you love to do yoga or any fitness class. Your favorite teacher’s class is very popular. The class starts at 11:30 a.m., but you want to be sure to get a good spot in the class. You also want to make sure you get a spot at all, because they often fill up due to popularity. You can enter the room for the class at 11 a.m.

So, you decide to leave your house at 10:30 a.m. so you can get to the gym by 10:45. This gives you plenty of time to put your stuff in a locker. You can also be the first one to enter the class and set up your mat in your favorite spot. Here, you can have a great view of the teacher, who will be demonstrating the movements.

Your friend asks you why you are leaving your house at 10:30 a.m. “The class is not until 11:30, and it only takes you 15 minutes to get there!”

You explain the situation to your friend and then add, “The early bird catches the worm,” to drive the point.

A Real-Life Example From the News

In 2013, an article about modern-day “treasure hunters” appeared in the Orange County Register. The article describes people who go out to the beach with metal detectors to find valuable objects. It also mentions how treasure hunters who get to the beach by 9 a.m. will almost never find anything. That’s because those most dedicated to this unique hobby arrive at the beach between 3 and 4 a.m. This ensures they get the best chance of finding something left behind from the day before. The piece adds the phrase, “The early bird catches the worm,” to show how these treasure hunters are so dedicated. They are willing to get up before dawn to have the best chance of finding something.

Pros and Cons of Using the Phrase, “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”

This phrase seems to be a positive message at its core. It encourages people to be early and eager for the best chance at success.

However, phrases like this can have a more negative side. For example, in some professional environments, you are only considered on time if you are early, but you may not be compensated for those extra few minutes your boss requires. Additionally, phrases like this can make people who have later sleep schedules, either naturally or due to a life situation, feel bad. They can’t get up early, or if they can, it’s very difficult for them.

On a deeper level, there are sometimes cons to being the first to do something or being extremely early, and this is proven by some other idioms in the English language. For example, the phrase, “Jumped the gun,” refers to someone who was too eager and they failed because they started something sooner than they should have.

Ultimately, this phrase is pretty harmless, and using it is unlikely to cause any unexpected drama.

Similar Phrases to, “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”

There are other idioms that have a similar but slightly different meaning to “the early bird catches the worm,” including:

  • “You snooze, you lose.”
  • “First come, first serve.”
  • “A day late and a dollar short.”
  • “Early to bed, early to rise.”

Up Next…

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jukka Palm/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Dayva is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering astrology, animals, and geography. She has over 12 years of experience as a writer, and graduated from Hofstra University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Music and a Minor in French. She has also completed course work in Core Strengths Coaching, Hypnotherapy, and Technical Communication. Dayva lives in the SF Bay Area with her cute but very shy cat, Tula.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What does the phrase "the early bird catches the worm" mean?

The phrase “the early bird catches the worm” means that those who are eager and early are often the ones who succeed. The deeper meaning of the phrase is that those who truly apply themselves to something and make a real effort have a higher likelihood of success.

What is an alternative to the phrase "the early bird catches the worm"?

People also say “the early bird gets the worm.” The two phrases can be used interchangeably.

When was the phrase "the early bird catches the worm" first used?

The earliest written example of this colloquial saying is from the year 1670. It was published in a book called A Collection of English Proverbs by John Ray.

What are some phrases with the same meaning as "the early bird catches the worm"?

  • “You snooze you lose.”
  • “First come first serve.”
  • “A day late and a dollar short.”
  • “Early to bed, early to rise.”

All of these phrases have a similar but slightly different meaning to “the early bird catches the worm”.

Is there anything negative about the phrase "the early bird catches the worm"?

Overall, this phrase is pretty harmless. however, there are sometimes cons to being the first to do something or being extremely early. For example, the phrase “jumped the gun” refers to someone who was too eager and they failed because they started something sooner than they should have.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.