Phrase guide

the jug goes to the well until it breaks

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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1

proverb

Meaning 1

Even though something can be used well at the moment, it will eventually break down as everything does.

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

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: tak dlouho se chodí se džbánem pro vodu, až se ucho utrhne — a jug goes to the well
  • French: tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se casse — a jug goes to the well
  • German: der Krug geht so lange zum Brunnen, bis er bricht — a jug goes to the well
  • Polish: póty dzban wodę nosi, póki się ucho nie urwie — a jug goes to the well
  • Russian: пова́дился кувши́н по́ воду ходи́ть, тут ему́ и го́лову сломи́ть (povádilsja kuvšín pó vodu xodítʹ, tut jemú i gólovu slomítʹ) — a jug goes to the well
  • Russian: ско́лько верёвочке ни ви́ться, а концу́ быть (skólʹko verjóvočke ni vítʹsja, a koncú bytʹ) — a jug goes to the well