未雨绸缪 — “To take precautions”

The idiom "未雨绸缪" (wèi yǔ chóu móu) originates from the "Classic of Poetry" (诗经), specifically from a poem titled "鸱鸮" (Chī Xiāo), which means 'Owl'. The poem describes a mother bird that, having lost its young, still diligently works to build and reinforce its nest.

Some lines from the poem are: "迨天之未阴雨，彻彼桑土，绸缪牖户。今此下民，或敢侮予！" These lines convey the idea: "Before the sky darkens and rains, quickly strip the bark from the mulberry tree roots to bind and mend the openings of the nest. Only when the nest is sturdy and secure will it be safe from potential harm." This imagery emphasizes the importance of making thorough preparations and arrangements in advance.

Later, these lines were condensed into the idiom "未雨绸缪," which is now used to describe the act of planning and preparing beforehand to prevent problems or to deal with future difficulties effectively, highlighting the wisdom of taking precautions to avoid being caught unprepared.