ProverbHuman NaturePolish origin

Na bezrybiu i rak ryba

Meaning: When there's nothing better, you make do with what you have.

Literally: When there are no fish, a crayfish is a fish

Example: “Nie było pociągu, więc pojechaliśmy autobusem. Na bezrybiu i rak ryba.” — There was no train, so we took the bus: beggars can't be choosers.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and 3 more languages

  • English: Beggars can't be choosers
  • French: Faute de grives, on mange des merles (literally: For lack of thrushes, one eats blackbirds)
  • Spanish: A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente (literally: Don't look at the teeth of a gifted horse)
  • German: In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen (literally: In times of need, the devil eats flies)
  • Portuguese: Quem não tem cão caça com gato (literally: Whoever has no dog hunts with a cat)
  • Russian: Не до жиру, быть бы живу (Ne do zhiru, byt' by zhivu) (literally: Never mind fat, as long as we stay alive)
  • Chinese: 饥不择食 (Jī bù zé shí) (literally: The hungry don't pick their food)
  • Turkish: Dilenciye hıyar vermişler de eğri diye beğenmemiş (literally: They gave the beggar a cucumber and he turned it down for being crooked)

Origin: A crayfish is no fish, but in an empty pond it will do for dinner.

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