ProverbChallenge
Russian origin
Russian originС волками жить — по-волчьи выть (S volkami zhit' — po-volch'i vyt')
Meaning: You have to adapt to the people you live or work among, even against your own inclination.
Literally: Live with wolves, howl like a wolf
Example: “В новой фирме все работают до ночи, пришлось и мне. С волками жить — по-волчьи выть.” — At the new firm everyone works late, so I had to as well: if you can't beat them, join them.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, 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)
Japanese: 長い物には巻かれろ (Nagai mono ni wa makarero) (literally: Wrap yourself around long things)
German: Mit den Wölfen muss man heulen (literally: With the wolves one must howl)
Turkish: Bükemediğin eli öp, başına koy (literally: Kiss the hand you can't bend, and raise it to your head)
Origin: The same wolves howl in German (mit den Wölfen muss man heulen) and French (il faut hurler avec les loups): among wolves, you howl as they do.
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