Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Saying ·215 of 348
"Not out of the woods yet."
They never said that.
What people say
"Not out of the woods yet."
What was actually said
"Don't halloo till you're out of the wood." English proverb — English proverb, first recorded c. 1600
Why it stuck
The 17th-century original ("halloo" = shout victory) had a specific warning: don't celebrate early. The modern version drops the action and keeps only the location.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.