The old verb ‘to halloo’ meant ‘to give a load exclamation’. Travellers lost
in a forest were relieved and delighted when they found their way through it
and emerged into the open country; but to mistake a small clearing for the
open country and shout ‘Hurray! We’re out of the wood!’ was rejoicing too
soon, for many more trees might lie beyond the clearing.

We use the proverb as a warning against being too optimistic, against
celebrating escape from danger before the danger is really over.

> ‘Here comes a helicopter!’ cried one of the shipwrecked sailors on the raft.
‘We’re saved!’

> But the light was bad and the pilot did not see them. As the sound of the
helicopter died away another sailor said sadly:

> ‘We’re not through the wood yet.’

##### See also:

* Catch your bear before you sell its skin
* Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched
* First catch your hare
* Never spend your money before you have it
* There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip