💧 Go to the Well Too Often: Tapping Those Resources Dry 🚰
“Go to the well too often” means to repeatedly call on the same resource until it is depleted. This phrase has its roots in ancient proverbs from the fourteenth century and has found its place in many languages over the centuries. It’s a caution against overusing or relying too heavily on one resource.
Synonyms
- Milk the cow dry
- Wear out one’s welcome
- Run it into the ground
Antonyms
- Use sparingly
- Conserve resources
Related and Similar Terms
- 🧺 “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” – Don’t rely on one single source or opportunity.
- 🍞 “Half a loaf is better than none” – Appreciate the little you get.
- 🪣 “The straw that broke the camel’s back” – A small addition to a burden that causes an overload.
- ⛲️ “Plumb the depths” – To exhaust all available possibilities or options thoroughly.
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” – Charles M. Schulz, which reminds you that resources may just be found in an unexpected time zone!
Proverbial Reference
- “The pitcher that often goes to the well comes home broken at last.” – Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732.
Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Book: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper – Teaches persistence but also the wisdom to rest when needed.
- Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey – Encourages hope but subtly suggests knowing one’s limits.
- Poem: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – Depicts choices and conservation of personal ‘resources.’
- Movie: Groundhog Day – Shows the humorous consequences of ‘going to the well too often,’ by cycling through the same day!
### Which phrase means overuse of a resource?
- [ ] Swimming in riches
- [x] Go to the well too often
- [ ] Flying under the radar
- [ ] Breaking the bank
> **Explanation:** "Go to the well too often" refers to overusing a particular resource, akin to depleting the well’s water by excessive usage.
### What's a suitable synonym for "Go to the well too often"?
- [x] Run it into the ground
- [ ] Building bridges
- [ ] Walking on sunshine
- [ ] Fishing for compliments
> **Explanation:** "Run it into the ground" aptly captures the idea of overusing something past its point of usefulness, similar to “going to the well too often.”
### What is an antonym for “Go to the well too often”?
- [ ] Invent the wheel
- [x] Use sparingly
- [ ] Fire on all cylinders
- [ ] Burn the midnight oil
> **Explanation:** “Use sparingly” suggests conserving resources rather than over-exploiting them, which contrasts with the idea behind “going to the well too often.”
### True or False: 'Running on empty' is a variation of 'go to the well too often'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** ‘Running on empty’ similarly implies using up available resources to the point of depletion, a close cousin to our main idiom.
In closing, remember to cherish and conserve your wells, lest they run dry. Thank you for diving deep into this phrase’s significance with me!
— Penelope Proverbsmith
