proverb · Words worth keeping
He that gapeth until he be fed Well may he gape until he be dead.
He that gapeth until he be fed Well may he gape until he be dead.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Simply waiting to be provided for can leave a need unmet. The open mouth exaggerates passive expectation into a posture that achieves nothing.
What the words are saying
Gaping presents the person as waiting with their mouth open for food to arrive. The saying contrasts that expectation with taking an available step toward meeting a need. Its point can apply to opportunities that require asking, preparing or making contact rather than silently hoping. The dramatic ending is an exaggeration of prolonged waiting, not a prediction about someone’s survival. A careful application first asks what actions are actually possible; dependence caused by circumstances is different from refusing an available opportunity.
Everyday example
Someone sends a clear request for help instead of assuming others will notice a problem they have not mentioned.
When to use it
Use it when a realistic action can replace unspoken expectation.
What it does not mean
People who need support may lack the power or resources to meet a need alone.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 663 · Gapeth
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English