little strokes fell great oaks
Meaning: Small, steady efforts achieve great results.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Write a page a day; little strokes fell great oaks.”
Category: Nature
Origin: A proverb found in English from the 16th century; Benjamin Franklin included it in Poor Richard's Almanack (1750).
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières — literally: Little streams make great rivers
More idioms — Nature
- protect one's turf — To defend one's area of control or responsibility against others.
- chase rainbows — To pursue something unrealistic.
- left high and dry — Stranded or abandoned without help.
- gone with the wind — Gone forever, vanished without a trace.
- the light at the end of the tunnel — A sign that a long, difficult period is ending.
- be in clover — To live in comfort and luxury.
More English idioms
- have one foot in the grave — To be close to death.
- cast the first stone — To be the first to condemn someone.
- steal a march on — To gain an advantage by acting before someone else.
- the bee's knees — Something or someone excellent.
- throw someone under the bus — To betray or blame someone to save oneself.
- take stock — To review a situation carefully before deciding what to do.