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
-
Жизнь прожить – не поле перейти
To live a life is not the same (not as easy) as to go through a field.
-
Заставь дурака богу молиться – он и лоб расшибёт
Make a fool pray to God - he will break his forehead.
-
You can't spoil the porridge with butter.
-
Another's soul is darkness.
-
Как аукнется, так и откликнется
What goes around comes around.
-
Всё хорошо, что хорошо кончается
All is well that ends well.
-
There are no friends for taste and color.
-
Some to the forest, some for firewood.
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