Idiom
Practice makes perfect
Practice makes perfect means that doing something again and again is the way to become really good at it.
How people use it
People say it to encourage learners, from children at the piano to adults learning a new language (keep going; practice makes perfect). It can also be a gentle reminder that early mistakes are normal. In this proverb, practice is a noun, so it is spelled with a c in both American and British English. Teachers and coaches sometimes add a twist, perfect practice makes perfect, to stress that careful practice matters more than mindless repetition.
Examples
- Maya's first loaves of bread were flat, but practice makes perfect, and now they rise beautifully.
- Practice makes perfect, so Leo spends twenty minutes every evening on his free throws.
- Don't worry about your shaky parallel parking; practice makes perfect.
Where it comes from
The idea is very old. A Latin saying called practice the best teacher, and older English proverbs said much the same thing, such as 'use makes mastery.' The modern wording, practice makes perfect, was well known by the 1700s and has been a classroom favorite ever since.
Check yourself
1. What is the main message of practice makes perfect?
Answer: Repeating something is how you get good at it. The proverb says skill comes from doing something many times.
2. Which sentence uses the proverb naturally?
Answer: Sam's first sketches were messy, but practice makes perfect, and his drawing has improved a lot.. Improving through repeated effort fits the proverb. Quitting after one lesson and being born perfect miss the point.
Similar idioms
Word game fan? See every word hiding in PRACTICE.