das Kind fällt in den Brunnen

German

Etymology

Literally, “the child falls into the well”. From a now unused proverb where the farmer only sets out to cover his well when a child (or a calf, or the like) has already drowned in it.

Phrase

das Kind fällt in den Brunnen

1. (idiomatic) a disaster happens or becomes inevitable; it is too late for precautions that should have been taken earlier

   Wenn das Kind in den Brunnen gefallen ist, wollen es alle wieder gleich gewusst haben.

   When the catastrophe has already occurred, they all claim they knew it all along.

   (literally, “When the child has fallen into the well,...”)

   Wir müssen Lösungen finden, bevor das Kind in den Brunnen fällt.

   We must find solutions before it’s too late.

   (literally, “...before the child falls into the well.”)