Idiom "If you watch a kettle, it never boils"

[Migrelli]

Test No. incompl/inter-14 "Popular Idioms (1)", question 2

If you watch a kettle, it never ..........

(a) cooks
(b) stew
(c) boils
(d) heats

Test No. incompl/inter-14 "Popular Idioms (1)", answer 2

If you watch a kettle, it never boils.

Correct answer: (c) boils

Your answer was: incorrect
If you watch a kettle, it never heats.
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what's the meaning of this idiom?

Migrelli

[Alan]

This expression means: If you wait for something to happen without trying to do anything at all, it will never happen.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A day in the life of a parliamentary candidate

[unison]

Does that not mean that when you wait impatiently for things to happen, they will never happen just because you are WAITING for them (and someway pushing on them) instead of letting them go themselves?
It's almost the contrary of your explanation... Am I wrong?

[Alan]

Thank you. You are absolutely right and I have given a strange explanation! A watched kettle never boils means that if you keep on wishing something to happen. it will take much much longer.
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Word Story: Weather

[mudium]

hi
why can't we boil some thing in kettle
jyo

[Torsten]

Of course you can boil water in a kettle. What makes you think you can't?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[mudium]

hi
If you watch a kettle, it never boils. I did'nt understand this sentence , please explain me .
thanks
jyo

[Torsten]

Hi,

Please let me know which part of Alan's explanation you don't understand:

[mudium]

i am sorry , i did not read Alan's explaination properly .
thank you torsten to correct my sentence.
jyo