ProverbPerseverance
English origin1695
English origin1695In for a penny, in for a pound
Meaning: Once committed to something, go all the way with it.
Origin: The earliest known use is in Edward Ravenscroft's comedy The Canterbury Guests (1695). Once you have committed a small amount, you may as well commit fully — the pound being worth 240 old pennies. It is often said just before doing something rash.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Portuguese, and 3 more languages
French: Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire (literally: When the wine is drawn, you must drink it)
Spanish: De perdidos, al río (literally: From lost, to the river)
Japanese: 毒を食らわば皿まで (Doku wo kurawaba sara made) (literally: If you eat poison, lick the plate too)
German: Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen (literally: He who says A must also say B)
Portuguese: Perdido por cem, perdido por mil (literally: Lost for a hundred, lost for a thousand)
Dutch: Wie A zegt, moet ook B zeggen (literally: Whoever says A must also say B)
Russian: Взялся за гуж, не говори, что не дюж (Vzyalsya za guzh, ne govori, chto ne dyuzh) (literally: Once you've taken the harness strap, don't say you're not strong enough)
Polish: Jak się powiedziało A, trzeba powiedzieć B (literally: Once you've said A, you have to say B)
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