it ain't over till it's over
Don't quit early; the outcome isn't settled until the end.
Also called it ain't over 'til it's over, it's not over till it's over.
Updated September 24, 2026
it ain't over till it's over pronunciation
/it AYNT OH-ver till its OH-ver/
Meaning
A stubborn reminder that scoreboards, arguments, and bad luck can flip. Used for ball games, card games, and everyday scrapes. The ain't keeps it in plain country mouth. You say it when somebody wants to throw in the towel too soon.
How folks use it
- “We're down two touchdowns, but it ain't over till it's over.”
- “That lawsuit looks bad, but it ain't over till it's over.”
Origin and etymology
Tied to baseball and Yogi Berra, who managed the 1973 Mets and later claimed the line. Close versions showed up in sports talk around then; the exact ain't wording is in print by the late 1970s. Older sayings already ran the same idea (a game isn't over until it's played out). Rural speakers keep it alive with ain't instead of isn't.