ProverbHuman Nature
American origin
American originThe squeaky wheel gets replaced
Meaning: Constant complainers may be removed rather than accommodated.
Origin: A modern joke twist on "the squeaky wheel gets the grease," warning that in a workplace the complainer may be removed rather than helped. The original proverb is in print by 1903, but the twist has no traced first use.
Equivalents in Japanese
Japanese: 出る杭は打たれる (Deru kui wa utareru) (literally: The nail that sticks out gets hammered down)
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- El cielo está enladrillado, ¿quién lo desenladrillará? A brutal test of the rolled 'r' and 'l'.
- Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. A 'bl' / 'br' brain-twister.
- Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando. An unbroken stampede of 'tr' and 't'.
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