Где тонко, там и рвётся
With accent marks:
Где то́нко, там и рвётся.
Translation:
Where it is thin, it breaks.
Meaning:
Everything that is in a poor, unsustainable, neglected state becomes a cause of great misfortune, problem, disaster. New troubles begin exactly where it was already bad before.
The same idea is expressed in other languages by many peoples of the world.
The closest English equivalents of this Russian proverb are:
- The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
- The worst spoke in a cart breaks first.
Other Russian proverbs
-
Beast runs towards the hunter.
-
Не рой яму другому, сам в неё попадешь
Do not dig a hole for another one, you will fall into it yourself.
-
Не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют
The demon is not as scary as he is depicted.
-
С кем поведёшься, от того и наберёшься
With whom you are friends with, from them you will learn.
-
Терпи, казак – атаманом станешь!
Be patient, Cossack - you will become an ataman!
-
Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят
Do not look at a given horse's teeth.
-
The best is the enemy of the good.
-
Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить
If you like sledding, you should like to carry the sled.
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