Idiom: A bird in the hand.

[Nga]

Test No. incompl/inter-15 "Popular Idioms (2) Garden", question 8

A bird in the hands is worth ......... in the bush.

(a) four
(b) three
(c) two
(d) one

Test No. incompl/inter-15 "Popular Idioms (2) Garden", answer 8

A bird in the hands is worth two in the bush.

Correct answer: (c) two

Your answer was: incorrect
A bird in the hands is worth four in the bush.
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Same with A7, I don't understand. Pls help.

Nga

[Torsten]

It means that something we already have is more valuable than the things we only hope to get.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Guest]

[Mister Micawber]

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There is no reason why it should be two rather than three or four, except that the proverb traditionally takes this form, Guest. There is no logic to the answer; you must be familiar with this popular proverb.

Try these:

A stitch in time saves _________.
________ time lucky.
_______ wrongs do not make a right.
The _____ blow is half the battle.
Once bitten, _____ shy.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Englishholic]

"A bird in the hand..." not "A bird in the hands..." Right?
Englishholic

[Mister Micawber]

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Yes, I think that would be more standard.
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Yankee]

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I agree.

Interestingly, the title of this thread contains the usual wording (hand), but the test sentence itself does not.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English