The origin of the proverb "be careful what you wish for" can be traced to English-speaking cultures. It reflects the idea that people may not fully understand the implications of their wishes, and what seems like a good outcome may lead to unforeseen problems. The proverb serves as a reminder to carefully consider the potential consequences of one's desires and decisions before pursuing them.

What is the origin of the proverb "be careful what you wish for" and when to use it?

(be|) careful what you wish for

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YmUgY2FyZWZ1bCB3aGF0IHlvdSB3aXNoIGZvcg&hash=b3fc2b1c6891128b2d2b7923226c8a144bee7bd4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

capability

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y2FwYWJpbGl0eQ&hash=4f33fe3990b93440034f964f9537330d01c908c6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to outperform

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gb3V0cGVyZm9ybQ&hash=acbb60779a9cdd85d1c5efa5f19cd89eb074a1b0&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

development

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGV2ZWxvcG1lbnQ&hash=8518c19ac909ca6f909de50ddc8d489f848383f6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to indicate

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaW5kaWNhdGU&hash=c565527d141f83d266876bd6a54f449f1d24bbe8&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to mention

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gbWVudGlvbg&hash=8d54bfd1e24444d5f5192665d317a9c855136b4f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to compare

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gY29tcGFyZQ&hash=faef0d9f5bee7597dc538256c2298cddc4216e52&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to illustrate

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gaWxsdXN0cmF0ZQ&hash=9593daf84061a8a16ddeefe6e8b758f2849ee6a0&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to define

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZGVmaW5l&hash=8d09f263b85d17249f6d99d6de63e74d38cde5ea&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

objective

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=b2JqZWN0aXZl&hash=bc8eb570288d334f24e7b9146ad9db33c2b01121&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to emphasize

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gZW1waGFzaXpl&hash=a2cccad99b3f01b5fa2ce5b4077b86388368b798&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

cooperation

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y29vcGVyYXRpb24&hash=d2f8b2f442470cf4288ad2f85266ba7481476938&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

course of action

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y291cnNlIG9mIGFjdGlvbg&hash=59bdf9c2345217bc9b5212ffd1422d7208daddb1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

principled

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cHJpbmNpcGxlZA&hash=64e810c5230d9f02411f3a626d85d52ddf0b4e1f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

superior

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=c3VwZXJpb3I&hash=6547f6f06f20d7379797fd038ed9e7d0023137b2&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to oppose

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gb3Bwb3Nl&hash=ffcd5dd3703cfa176cd4f3f3e64e07f0b9831f9d&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to summarize

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc3VtbWFyaXpl&hash=453178dab40c889e66c7d08fda29129f4042053d&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

argument

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YXJndW1lbnQ&hash=2d499d26b88d58b3fc0c562776f4d44ba69204dd&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to result in

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcmVzdWx0IGlu&hash=2a12cb0d41906f1c926293aa20052fa8785b8c18&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

abuse

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YWJ1c2U&hash=d08cd185d737a42305bf4f9f553745ea3b13f0a4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

shortcoming

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=c2hvcnRjb21pbmc&hash=e641564e48f4646d9949d0d838ebe9c7a685977e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to promote

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcHJvbW90ZQ&hash=6a7dd171affdcda7cc4fe8fcba32fd26f7413aed&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

prospect

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cHJvc3BlY3Q&hash=05079db64d9e6d00299e1e8634d03c22bcf4510b&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

independence

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=aW5kZXBlbmRlbmNl&hash=186c0ea8aaa1b772a953f18296e9c0482066ab6a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to allocate

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gYWxsb2NhdGU&hash=433552bf8f5dd10e33ca44470e775a894b901fc3&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

patient

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cGF0aWVudA&hash=656f8b9b0a1a1e9b2bb8d757b559277c45459606&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

benefit

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YmVuZWZpdA&hash=1ce96ce1662486fbca170c5ae070863c434d1ea4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

appropriate

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=YXBwcm9wcmlhdGU&hash=00d736989016805ae04ae709c628cbeebb0c73e4&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

discriminatory

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=ZGlzY3JpbWluYXRvcnk&hash=c1624017ca15cc82819814325f9757e97626ac25&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

medical practitioner

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=bWVkaWNhbCBwcmFjdGl0aW9uZXI&hash=3cbcc71a4595320fbf0f20805ad1aa59db4f442e&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to require

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gcmVxdWlyZQ&hash=bfd91cc4db1ee4d0b9782b1c2435e8fa5043f5a5&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

cooperative

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y29vcGVyYXRpdmU&hash=019aea6732959640185b83507877ce9d804eeef9&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

spirit

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=c3Bpcml0&hash=4fbfcc58bfc06b773fd0e7d4d08c43d0a659efe6&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

willingness

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=d2lsbGluZ25lc3M&hash=e9173750d7077a5dc7d0f04f391b4527ca8c3ab1&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

to set aside

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dG8gc2V0IGFzaWRl&hash=29706fe1ccff1c23da0ce3142a795dd889c4845f&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

self-interest

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=c2VsZi1pbnRlcmVzdA&hash=5979edafcba93d31ecedc5d3dc971bb9d0a7b04a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

moral

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=bW9yYWw&hash=68f52e61a298b03ac59b46d010fb93491220b31a&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

reasoning

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cmVhc29uaW5n&hash=4b652e8bef301423a08f63be7da88c17215f4585&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

uniquely

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=dW5pcXVlbHk&hash=28e11b22241c82415e518f5562fb375c31bb0267&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

capacity

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=Y2FwYWNpdHk&hash=f53c02e68a8cc1c33bda296d2ca13a9c40baa327&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

package

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cGFja2FnZQ&hash=b2e43a5f712776c0d7ca2b149aae6be116b671e9&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

respect

https://tts.langeek.co/read?text=cmVzcGVjdA&hash=ea21b49ab86be1b32eb93ac8d2c467257a2fbdad&lang=en&cache-only=0&driver=googletts

Here you can find the vocabulary from Test 2 - Reading - Passage 2 (3) in the Cambridge IELTS 18 - Academic coursebook, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.

IELTS 18 - Academic | Test 2 - Reading - Passage 2 (3)

Test 2 - Reading - Passage 2 (3)

Cambridge IELTS 18 - Academic "Test 2 - Reading - Passage 2 (3)" Vocabulary