If It Ain't Broke

Phrase · Slang & Abbreviations

Definitions

  1. A shorthand for resisting change when the current thing appears to work well enough. In engineering slang, 'if it ain't broke' can be healthy caution or an excuse to ignore debt and looming failure.

    In plain English: A saying used to argue against changing something that seems to work already.

    Example: "The team kept invoking 'if it ain't broke,' even though the old workflow was clearly one personnel change away from becoming unmaintainable."

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