捕とらぬ狸たぬきの皮かわ算ざん用よう

expression

counting one's chickens before they're hatched

Proverbial expression warning against making plans based on uncertain outcomes. The literal meaning is 'calculating the value of a raccoon dog's pelt before catching it.'

• まだ合ごう格かくもしていないのに、入にゅう学がく後ごの計けい画かくを立たてるなんて、捕とらぬ狸たぬきの皮かわ算ざん用ようだ。

  Making plans for after enrollment before even passing the exam is like counting your chickens before they're hatched.

• 宝たからくじが当あたったら何なにを買かおうかと話はなすのは、まさに捕とらぬ狸たぬきの皮かわ算ざん用ようだよ。

  Talking about what to buy if you win the lottery is exactly counting your chickens before they're hatched.