ProverbChallengeEnglish origin1546

Tread on a worm and it will turn.

Meaning: Even the meekest, most powerless creature will resist when pushed to its absolute limit of suffering.

Origin: John Heywood's 1546 collection says a worm trodden on the tail will turn again, and Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 3 has "The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on." Even the meekest creature fights back when pushed too far.

Equivalents in French, Japanese, German, Dutch, and Korean

  • French: Un ver se recoquille quand on marche dessus (literally: Tread on a worm and it will turn)
  • Japanese: 一寸の虫にも五分の魂 (Issun no mushi ni mo gobu no tamashii) (literally: Even a one-inch insect has a half-inch soul)
  • German: Auch der Wurm krümmt sich, wenn er getreten wird (literally: Even the worm writhes when it is trodden on)
  • Dutch: Daar is geen worm zo klein, die zich niet kromt (literally: No worm is so small that it won't curl up)
  • Korean: 지렁이도 밟으면 꿈틀한다 (Jireongido balbeumyeon kkumteulhanda) (literally: Even an earthworm wriggles when stepped on)

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