Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit: 12 Sayings and Superstitions About Rabbits

Have you ever said “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first day of the month? If you have, you’re not alone.

Saying “rabbit” three times on the first of the month is an old superstition. It’s supposed to bring good luck to you for the rest of month.

Many cultures believe rabbits are lucky and three is a magic number. This is probably why saying “rabbit” three times became a popular superstition for good fortune. Plus, it’s easy to do and doesn’t take much time!

Here are 11 more sayings and superstitions that feature rabbits and bunnies. Have you ever heard of any of these?

1. Pull a rabbit out of your hat

This saying means you produced something unexpectedly, as if by magic. For decades, a common professional magician’s trick was to surprise an audience by pulling a white rabbit out of a black top hat. That’s why we have this saying.

2. Rabbit food

When you eat healthy foods like salad and vegetables, people might say you’re eating rabbit food. That’s because rabbits are vegetarians. They don’t eat meat.

3. Rabbit’s foot

Since many people believe rabbits are lucky, they go so far as to carry a rabbit’s foot around with them. They think good luck will rub off on them. But consider the poor footless bunny! It wasn’t very lucky, was it?

4. Going down the rabbit hole

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice falls down a rabbit hole and enters a bizarre world with a talking white rabbit and other strange creatures. If someone says you went down a rabbit hole, they mean you entered a complex and difficult situation and got a little lost.

5. To rabbit on

When someone talks too much or goes on for too long, you might say they’re “rabbiting on.” This saying comes from the idea that rabbits have a lot of energy and can nimbly bounce in any number of directions.

6. Breed like rabbits

Rabbits can have many babies in a short time. If someone “breeds like a rabbit” - it means they have lots of children.

7. Dust Bunnies

Look under your bed. Do you see little blobs of fluff? People call those “dust bunnies” because they look a bit like rabbit tails and they are made of dust! Plus, “dust bunny” is more fun to say than “dust rabbit.”

8. If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either

This saying means if you try to do too many difficult things at once, you won’t succeed. That’s because rabbits can dart in many surprising directions. Catching one is hard enough: but trying to catch two at the same time is impossible!

9. Quick like a bunny

Rabbits are fast and nimble. If someone says you’re quick like a bunny, they mean you’re super speedy!

10. Easter Rabbit or Easter Bunny

Lots of people believe that a rabbit brings colored eggs in a basket on Easter Sunday. Easter marks the beginning of spring, new life, and abundance. Bunnies, eggs, and colors are all part of the season of hope and possibilities. 

11. Snuggle Bunny

And let’s face it: rabbits are soft and cuddly. If someone calls you their snuggle bunny, it means they want to hug and squeeze you!

What other sayings and superstitions have you heard about rabbits and bunnies?