ProverbPerseveranceFrench origin

Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire

Meaning: Once you have committed to something, you have to go through with it.

Literally: When the wine is drawn, you must drink it

Example: “Tu as accepté de présider l'association ; quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire.” — You agreed to chair the association: in for a penny, in for a pound.

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

  • English: In for a penny, in for a pound
  • 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)

Origin: Wine drawn from the cask will not keep for long, so once it is poured it has to be drunk.

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