ProverbWisdom
Russian origin
Russian originЗа двумя зайцами погонишься — ни одного не поймаешь (Za dvumya zaytsami pogonish'sya — ni odnogo ne poymaesh')
Meaning: Pursue two goals at once and you'll achieve neither.
Literally: Chase two hares and you won't catch either
Example: “Выбери один проект. За двумя зайцами погонишься — ни одного не поймаешь.” — Pick one project: if you run after two hares, you'll catch neither.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 3 more languages
English: Between two stools he comes to the ground.
French: Entre deux selles le cul à terre (literally: Between two stools the breech comes to the ground)
Spanish: Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta (literally: He who grasps much, squeezes little)
Japanese: 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu) (literally: He who chases two hares catches neither)
German: Man kann nicht auf zwei Hochzeiten gleichzeitig tanzen (literally: You cannot dance at two weddings at the same time)
Italian: Chi troppo vuole nulla stringe (literally: Whoever wants too much grasps nothing)
Dutch: Tussen twee stoelen in de as vallen (literally: To fall into the ashes between two chairs)
Polish: Łapać dwie sroki za ogon (literally: To grab two magpies by the tail)
Origin: The two hares run in German and Latin too (wer zwei Hasen zugleich jagt, fängt keinen). The Ukrainian comedy За двома зайцями (1883) and its 1961 film made the image even more familiar.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
- Без царя в голове (Bez tsarya v golove) Foolish and reckless — with no one in charge upstairs.
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