長い物には巻かれろ (Nagai mono ni wa makarero)

Meaning: Don't resist those more powerful than you; go along with them.

Literally: Wrap yourself around long things

Example: “納得はできないが、社長の方針に従うことにした。長い物には巻かれろだ。” — I don't agree, but I've decided to follow the boss's policy: if you can't beat them, join them.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Turkish

English: If you can't beat them, join them
French: Il faut hurler avec les loups (literally: One must howl with the wolves)
Spanish: Si no puedes con tu enemigo, únete a él (literally: If you can't beat your enemy, join them)
German: Mit den Wölfen muss man heulen (literally: With the wolves one must howl)
Russian: С волками жить — по-волчьи выть (S volkami zhit' — po-volch'i vyt') (literally: Live with wolves, howl like a wolf)
Turkish: Bükemediğin eli öp, başına koy (literally: Kiss the hand you can't bend, and raise it to your head)

Origin: A "long thing" is someone or something powerful; rather than fight it, let yourself be wrapped up in it.

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

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