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Rob Peter to pay Paul

Meaning: Solve one problem by creating another.

Origin: English proverb from the 14th century, referencing apostles Peter and Paul.

Translations

  • French: Déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul (literally: Undress Peter to dress Paul)
  • Spanish: Desnudar a un santo para vestir a otro (literally: Undress one saint to dress another)
  • Japanese: あちらを立てればこちらが立たず (Achira wo tatereba kochira ga tatazu) (literally: If one side stands, the other cannot)

More proverbs about Wisdom

  • You can't have your cake and eat it too — You can't enjoy two mutually exclusive things simultaneously.
  • Better safe than sorry — It's wiser to be cautious than to take unnecessary risks.
  • A rose by any other name would smell as sweet — The essence of something doesn't depend on what it's called.
  • Kill two birds with one stone — Accomplish two tasks with a single action.
  • Don't bite off more than you can chew — Don't take on more than you can handle.
  • Every rose has its thorn — Even the best things have their drawbacks.

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