This proverb suggests that time feels slower when you’re anxiously waiting for something to happen, and constant attention can make progress seem stalled. It advises patience, as focusing too intently on an outcome doesn’t speed it up. The phrase is used in contexts of anticipation, from cooking to life events, with a humorous or gentle tone.

The phrase likely emerged in 19th-century England or America, tied to domestic life and literal cooking, where watching a pot of water seemed to delay its boiling. The earliest known use is in Charlotte Brontë’s 1849 novel *Shirley*, where a character remarks, ‘They say a watched pot never boils.’ Its metaphorical use grew in the 20th century, reflecting universal experiences of impatience, as seen in advice columns and literature like Virginia Woolf’s works.