English / proverb
If You Find Yourself in a Hole, the First Thing to Do Is Stop Digging
MEANING IN ENGLISH
When facing a self-destructive or worsening conflict, halt harmful actions before attempting recovery
In context
01
Instead of issuing aggressive denials that made the crisis worse, the director realized that if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
02
Under cross-examination, the defendant ceased his inconsistent excuses, knowing that if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
Synonyms
cut your losses,cease harmful actions,stop compounding errors
Antonyms
dig in deeper,aggravate matters,escalate blindly
Collocations
advice that if you find yourself in a hole,rule is if you find yourself in a hole,remember if you find yourself in a hole