所以,在英语中我们常常用“count one's chickens before they are hatched”来形容早早抱有乐观态度的人。有时省略“before they are hatched”,直接说“count one's chickens”。例如:Carol is one of the guys who always count their chickens. She has not got the pay yet, but already bought the expensive dress. (译文:Carol是那种过早乐观的人。她都还没拿到薪水就已经买了那件昂贵的裙子了。)
这个词组有时以否定形式“don't count one's chickens before they are hatched”出现,用于告诫他人不要过早乐观。例如:You never know what would happen until the last minute, so don't count your chickens before they are hatched.(不到最后一刻你都不知道会发生什么事,所以别过早乐观了。