if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging

Proverb

 * 1) When finding oneself in a troubling situation, one should first make sure one is not making the situation worse by one's own actions before addressing all other causes.

Usage notes

 * This rule is known as the law of holes or Healey's law.

Synonyms

 * when you are in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging
 * when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging