beggars can't be choosers en · X
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available.
Mo went online and found me a beggars-can't-be-choosers flight out of Denver: a 5.45 a.m. takeoff, a three-hour layover at O'Hare. I'd land in Hartford by late afternoon. "I'll be fine," I said. "Drink a lot of coffee, drive right from school to the airport. I can crash once I get on the plane." She frowned. "Okay, let me rephrase that. I can sleep once I get on the plane."
2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.3, at p.60
Coordinates
my way or the highway · take it or leave it · Hobson's choice
Synonyms
half a loaf is better than none · don't look a gift horse in the mouth · something is better than nothing
Translations (36)
de in der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · et vaene ei tohi pirtsutada (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · hu eszi, nem eszi, nem kap mást (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · es no se puede ser pobre y soberbio (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · is vandfýsni hæfir ekki snauðum (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ru не до жи́ру, быть бы жи́ву (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl z braku laku dobry kit (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ru бедняки́ не выбира́ют (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ms برشکور دڠن يڠ اد (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · bg на хари́зан кон зъ́бите не се гле́дат (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · hu éhes ember nem válogat (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ro nemulțumitului i se ia darul (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · sv skåda inte given häst i munnen (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ms bersyukur dengan yang ada (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ro calul de dar nu se caută la dinți (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · es menos da una piedra (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pt a cavalo dado não se olha os dentes (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl lepszy wróbel w ręku niż sokół na sęku (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl lepszy rydz niż nic (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · fi köyhällä ei ole varaa nirsoilla (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · nl men mag een gegeven paard niet in de bek zien (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · de in der Not schmeckt jedes Brot (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · cmn 飢不擇食 /饥不择食 (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl lepszy wróbel w ręku niż cietrzew na sęku (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · sl v sili še hudič muhe žre (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · es a mucha hambre, no hay pan duro (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · pl na bezrybiu i rak ryba (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · ko 얻어먹는 놈이 쓰다 달다 할 수 있나 (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · it questo passa il convento (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · fr faute de grives, on mange des merles (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · gd na dèan àilgheas air tìodhlac (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · hu ez van, ezt kell szeretni (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · cs darovanému koni na zuby nehleď (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts) · is hafa skal það sem hendi er næst (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts)