Easy come, easy go
Meaning: Things obtained without effort are easily lost.
Origin: The older English form was "light come, light go," and French had a parallel saying in the late 14th century. The "easy" wording later became the common one. It is said of money or anything else gained without effort and lost just as quickly.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais (literally: Ill-gotten goods never prosper)
- Spanish: Lo que fácil viene, fácil se va (literally: What comes easily, goes easily)
- Japanese: 悪銭身につかず (Akusen mi ni tsukazu) (literally: Ill-gotten money doesn't stick)
- German: Wie gewonnen, so zerronnen (literally: As won, so melted away)
More proverbs about Wisdom
- The proof is in the pudding — Results speak louder than promises.
- Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it — Ignoring past mistakes leads to repeating them.
- The early worm gets eaten — Being first isn't always advantageous — sometimes it's risky.
- Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater — Don't discard something valuable while getting rid of unwanted things.
- Rob Peter to pay Paul — Solve one problem by creating another.
- You can't have your cake and eat it too — You can't enjoy two mutually exclusive things simultaneously.
From our compliments & insults
- Je bent een kanjer — You're a star — a champ and a wonderful person.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) — You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
- Χρυσό μου (Chrysó mou) — My darling — a tender term of endearment.