Home › Proverbs

If you can't beat them, join them

Meaning: If you can't win against something, align with it.

Origin: American English, early 20th century political expression.

Translations

  • French: Si tu ne peux pas les battre, rejoins-les (literally: If you can't beat them, join them)
  • Spanish: Si no puedes con tu enemigo, únete a él (literally: If you can't beat your enemy, join them)
  • Japanese: 長い物には巻かれろ (Nagai mono ni wa makarero) (literally: Wrap yourself around long things)

More proverbs about Challenge

  • You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs — Progress requires sacrifice.
  • What doesn't kill you makes you stronger — Adversity builds resilience and character.
  • Nothing ventured, nothing gained — You must take risks to achieve rewards.
  • Out of the frying pan, into the fire — Escaping one bad situation only to end up in a worse one.
  • The road to success is paved with failure — Success requires learning from mistakes.
  • Walk softly and carry a big stick — Act gently but maintain the power to enforce if needed.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…