Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-01
Sense: Verified- Meaning and lesson
Small efforts, repeated consistently, can accomplish what a single attempt cannot. The proverb presents persistence as a force that works gradually rather than all at once.
It can also describe the cumulative effect of repeated pressure. Something that initially seems resistant to change may be altered by many modest actions over time.
- When it is used
Use it to encourage patience with slow progress or to explain how repeated efforts have produced a visible result. It suits situations where each individual action seems too small to matter on its own.
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Constant dropping wears the stone.