明日あすのことを言いえば鬼おにが笑わらう

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.

• 「来らい年ねんは絶ぜっ対たいに昇しょう進しんするよ」と言いったら、同どう僚りょうに「明日あすのことを言いえば鬼おにが笑わらう」と言いわれた。

  When I said, 'I'll definitely get promoted next year,' my colleague told me, 'Nobody knows the morrow.'

• 明日あすのことを言いえば鬼おにが笑わらうというから、あまり先さきの計けい画かくを立た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.