Phrase guide

if you can't beat them, join them

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

proverb

Meaning 1

If one's adversaries are stronger, it is better to join their side.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: ако не можеш да ги победиш, присъедини се към тях (ako ne možeš da gi pobediš, prisǎedini se kǎm tjah) — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Chinese Mandarin: 如果打不過他們,就加入他們 /如果打不过他们 — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Chinese Mandarin: 就加入他们 (rúguǒ dǎ bùguò tāmen, jiù jiārù tāmen) — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Finnish: jos et voi voittaa heitä, liity heihin — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • French: il faut savoir hurler avec les loups — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • German: man muss mit den Wölfen heulen — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Korean: 이길 수 없다면 합류해라 (igil su eopdamyeon hamnyuhaera) — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Norwegian Bokmål: kan du ikke slå dem, bli med dem — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Portuguese: se não pode vencê-los, junte-se a eles — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Russian: не мо́жешь поби́ть, присоединя́йся к ним (ne móžešʹ pobítʹ, prisojedinjájsja k nim) — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Scottish Gaelic: chan eil air an loch nach gabh ligeadh ach a fhàgail far am bi e — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Spanish: si no puedes contra el enemigo, únete a él — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Thai: ถ้าสู้ไม่ไหวจงเข้าร่วมซะ (Tha Su Mai Wai Chong Khao Ruam Sa) — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
  • Turkish: bükemediğin eli öp başına koy. — if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side