Its and ands

[harleybobs]

Does anyone know what or where this rhyme means

If its and ands where pots and pans we'd all be little tinkers ?

[kempie]

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride,
If turnips were swords I'd have one by my side.
If 'ifs' and 'ands' were pots and pans
There'd be no need for tinkers hands!

I think this means that you should concentrate on what you have rather than on what you don't have.

[indie1978]

if ifs and buts were apples and nuts! ( my nan used to say that all the time )

[jno]

I think it's 'an' rather than 'and' - 'an' is an old word for 'if'; may still be in German. So it's saying that 'if' we had all we wanted we'd be fine, ie stating the obvious. Tinkers mended pots and pans so 'if' we had lots we wouldn't need to mend old ones.

[espiegle]

kempie (above) is right. 'Tinkers' of course refers to itinerants who generally repaired pots and pans or made and sold them.