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The squeaky wheel gets the grease

Meaning: Those who complain the most get attention.

Origin: American proverb from the 19th century.

Translations

  • French: La roue qui grince reçoit la graisse (literally: The squeaking wheel receives the grease)
  • Spanish: El que no llora, no mama (literally: He who doesn't cry, doesn't get fed)
  • Japanese: 泣く子は餅を多くもらう (Naku ko wa mochi wo ōku morau) (literally: The crying child gets more rice cakes)

More proverbs about Communication

  • It takes two to tango — Both parties are responsible in a conflict.
  • United we stand, divided we fall — Strength comes from unity.
  • A rising tide lifts all boats — General improvements benefit everyone.
  • A chain is only as strong as its weakest link — A group's effectiveness is limited by its weakest member.
  • Silence speaks volumes — What is not said can be more meaningful than what is.
  • There's no such thing as bad publicity — Any attention, even negative, can be beneficial.

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