Meaning of ‘Be careful what you wish for’?

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The idiom “be careful what you wish for” warns people of the negative consequences that may come with getting their wish. It can be paradoxical when combined with phrases like “it might come true.” Examples include winning the lottery but facing money problems or wanting a promotion but have added stress.

The idiom “be careful what you wish for” is often used as a type of warning to people who want a thing, but may not realize all the negative consequences that could accompany getting that wish. Sometimes, the saying is followed by “it might come true,” “lest it come true,” “you might get it,” “you might get it,” or some other similar final phrase. Due to the contradictory meaning of these two phrases, combining them may confuse those who have never heard the idiom. Of course, whether the idiom provides some truth depends entirely on the situation. Often, the contradictory nature of the idiom does not negate the true warning it provides.

By itself, the saying may not have much meaning to those who have never heard it. Coupled with one of the other final sentences, however, it becomes a rather oxymoronic or paradoxical statement. This means that it contains seemingly contradictory elements. When one person tells another person to be careful what he wishes for because his wish for her might come true, the recipient might think this is strange advice since he wants his wish for her to come true. . In this sense, the sentence seems contradictory.

Like many idiomatic expressions, “be careful what you wish for” can be used in numerous situations in everyday life. Usually, examples of appropriate times to use it combine a good result with a negative consequence. In other words, the person gets the desire for her, but a negative result also accompanies it.

For example, a person’s neighbor may warn him to be careful about winning the lottery, because of the money-related problems he may encounter when he wins. Similarly, a friend might warn another friend about wanting a brand new car, due to the higher amount of insurance he will have to pay and the increased risk of theft and vandalism his new car will pose. could face. One coworker might warn another coworker that he wants a promotion because of all the added responsibilities that would cause personal stress and decrease the amount of time he can spend at home with his family. A homeowner might want a bigger house, not thinking about the increased bills that would follow. Each of these situations has both a positive outcome, in the sense that the person has obtained the desire for her, and a negative consequence, in the sense that the person has also received discouraging or even harmful results.




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