expression, godan verb (-u)
nobody knows the morrow; speak of tomorrow and the ogres laugh
Proverb used to warn against making assumptions about the future, often said when someone talks about future plans as if they are certain. The literal image is that ogres (demons) will laugh at human attempts to predict tomorrow.
When I said, 'I'll definitely get promoted next year,' my colleague told me, 'Nobody knows the morrow.'
明日のことを言えば鬼が笑うというから、あまり先の計画を立てすぎないほうがいい。
They say speak of tomorrow and the ogres laugh, so it's better not to plan too far ahead.