Home › Proverbs

Claw me, and I will claw you.

Meaning: Mutual aggression escalates reciprocally; treating others harshly invites equal retaliation in return.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Challenge

  • Every cock is proud on his own dunghill. — A person commands confidence and authority only within their familiar domain, losing that…
  • A cold April a barn will fill. — Late spring frosts kill pests and prevent crop diseases, ensuring abundant harvests the f…
  • In the coldest flint there is hot fire. — Even the hardest, most unyielding hearts harbor warmth and potential for compassion withi…
  • It's an ill battle where the devil carries the colours. — When evil forces lead the fight, victory itself becomes a moral defeat for all sides invo…
  • It's good to have company in trouble. — Shared hardship becomes more bearable through mutual support and the comfort of knowing y…
  • They complain wrongfully of the sea, who twice suffer shipwreck. — Repeated misfortune from the same cause reveals poor judgment rather than bad luck.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…