Meanings
proverb
alternative if you can't beat them
- If one's adversaries are stronger, it is better to join their side.
GWM seeks gay female for liberal marriage. If you can't beat them, join them!
1985 August 24, “Will You Marry Me? (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 7, page 17
Translations
Bulgarian ако не можеш да ги победиш, присъедини се към тях
- ако не можеш да ги победиш, присъедини се към тях (ako ne možeš da gi pobediš, prisăedini se kăm tjah)if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Chinese Cantonese 唔夠人打，就加入佢哋嗰邊 /唔够人打, 就加入佢哋嗰边
- 唔夠人打，就加入佢哋嗰邊 /唔够人打if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
- 就加入佢哋嗰边 (m⁴ gau³ jan⁴ daa², zau⁶ gaa¹ jap⁶ keoi⁵ dei⁶ go² bin¹)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, 就加入他们
- 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
- 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
- jos et voi voittaa heitä, liity heihinif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
French il faut savoir hurler avec les loups
- il faut savoir hurler avec les loupsif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
German man muss mit den Wölfen heulen
- man muss mit den Wölfen heulenif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Japanese 敵わないなら、仲間になれ
- 敵わないなら、仲間になれ (kanawanai nara, nakama ni nare)if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Korean 이길 수 없다면 합류해라
- 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
- kan du ikke slå dem, bli med demif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Portuguese se não pode vencê-los, junte-se a eles
- se não pode vencê-los, junte-se a elesif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Russian не мо́жешь поби́ть, присоединя́йся к ним
- 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
- chan eil air an loch nach gabh ligeadh ach a fhàgail far am bi eif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Spanish si no puedes contra el enemigo, únete a él
- si no puedes contra el enemigo, únete a élif your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Thai ถ้าสู้ไม่ไหวจงเข้าร่วมซะ
- 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.
- bükemediğin eli öp başına koy.if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side
Cite this entry
APA
if you can't beat them, join them. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20can't%20beat%20them%2C%20join%20them
MLA
“if you can't beat them, join them.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20can't%20beat%20them%2C%20join%20them. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if you can't beat them, join them,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20can't%20beat%20them%2C%20join%20them.
Source: if you can't beat them, join them on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.