leave well enough alone

English edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈliːv ˈwɛl ɪˌnʌf əˈləʊn/
  • (file)

Verb edit

leave well enough alone (third-person singular simple present leaves well enough alone, present participle leaving well enough alone, simple past and past participle left well enough alone)

  1. To leave something alone; to avoid trying to correct, fix, or improve what is already adequate.
    Synonym: leave well alone
    We should have left well enough alone when we had it working the first time.

Usage notes edit

The usual form of the expression in the UK is leave well alone.

Synonyms edit

Translations edit

See also edit