- English translation
Patching cannot save a garment that has already worn away.
- Literal wording
What can patching do for a worn-out garment?
- Meaning and lesson
The saying dismisses a repair attempted after damage has become too extensive. It stresses that a small corrective measure cannot restore something whose condition has already deteriorated beyond its remaining strength.
It may be said of a plan, relationship, institution, or material object that has been neglected until fundamental failure sets in. The emphasis is not on repair itself, but on recognizing when repair comes too late; it does not reject timely repair in general.
- When it is used
Use it when a limited fix is proposed for a problem whose underlying damage is so broad that a more fundamental response is needed. It can sound blunt or discouraging, especially when directed at another person's attempt to salvage a failing situation.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Patching cannot save a garment that has already worn away.