What does quit while you’re ahead mean?
Idiom Meaning:
stop doing something that’s rewarding but has become too risky
Examples of this Idiom in Movies & TV Shows:
On Deadly Ground (1994)
Time of Scene:
McGruder: You’d better quit while you’re ahead, Hugh! Know what I’m saying? While you can still play marbles. Where are the disks? Where are the books?
Hugh Palmer: Fuck you!
McGruder: Fuck me? No, fuck you! Hugh.
Hugh Palmer: Go to hell!
McGruder: Okay. Okay. I’ll go to hell.
Wizards and Warriors (1983)
Time of Scene:
Prince Dirk Blackpool: This situation is more intolerable to me than you can imagine. It would help if you could muster up some degree of sophistication.
Prince Erik Greystone: Dirk, why don’t you quit while you’re ahead? In the Rains of Death, skin melts.
Prince Dirk Blackpool: Obviously sophistication is beyond you, Erik. I trust the rest of you will make up for him?
Flicka (2006)
Time of Scene:
Rob McLaughlin: I didn’t see the vet bill.
Nell McLaughlin: Does someone wanna grab this last burger?
Rob McLaughlin: How much?
Nell McLaughlin: You know what I’ve been thinking about lately? If quitters never win, why are you supposed to quit while you’re ahead?
Howard McLaughlin: Or, how good can a bedtime story be if it’s supposed to put you to sleep?
Nell McLaughlin: Right.
Rob McLaughlin: How much?
Nell McLaughlin: $1,648.32.
Rob McLaughlin: $1,600? That’s just unacceptable.
Nell McLaughlin: Well, I’ll speak to the horses.
Rob McLaughlin: I don’t remember my daddy ever giving horses shots. They were healthy, they took care of themselves. Ain’t that right, Gus?
Gus: Oh, sure. Back then, horses mucked their own stalls, nailed on their own shoes, even chipped in with the rent money.
Submit Quit While You’re Ahead Idiom Examples
Do you know an example of this idiom from another movie or TV show?
Please send us your suggestion, and we could feature it in the next update.
Click here to submit idiom examples.
