if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas

proverb

Spending time with undesirable individuals will cause one to acquire their undesirable traits.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. Spending time with undesirable individuals will cause one to acquire their undesirable traits.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
  • 近朱者赤，近墨者黑 (jìn zhū zhě chì, jìn mò zhě hēi)(proverb) spending time with undesirable people will cause one to take on their undesirable traits
German wer den Hund ins Bett lässt, steht mit Flöhen auf
  • wer den Hund ins Bett lässt, steht mit Flöhen auf(proverb) spending time with undesirable people will cause one to take on their undesirable traits
Polish kto z kim przestaje, takim się staje
  • kto z kim przestaje, takim się staje(proverb) spending time with undesirable people will cause one to take on their undesirable traits
Russian с кем поведёшься, от того́ и наберёшься
  • с кем поведёшься, от того́ и наберёшься (s kem povedjóšʹsja, ot tovó i naberjóšʹsja)(proverb) spending time with undesirable people will cause one to take on their undesirable traits
Scottish Gaelic am fear a laigheas sa pholl, togaidh e an làthach
  • am fear a laigheas sa pholl, togaidh e an làthach(proverb) spending time with undesirable people will cause one to take on their undesirable traits
Turkish itle yatan bitle kalkar
  • itle yatan bitle kalkar(proverb) spending time with undesirable people will cause one to take on their undesirable traits
Cite this entry
APA

if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20lie%20down%20with%20dogs%2C%20you%20get%20up%20with%20fleas

MLA

“if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20lie%20down%20with%20dogs%2C%20you%20get%20up%20with%20fleas. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20you%20lie%20down%20with%20dogs%2C%20you%20get%20up%20with%20fleas.

Source: if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.