Rob Peter to pay Paul

Meaning

The idiom "rob Peter to pay Paul" means to take something from one person to give it to another, effectively draining one account or resource to replenish another. It is often used to describe a situation where someone is stealing from another to pay their debts or obligations.

Usage

• The company had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" by cutting expenses in other departments to fund the new project.
• When my car broke down, I had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" by maxing out my credit card to pay for the repairs.
• The government had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" by increasing taxes on middle-class families to fund social programs for low-income families.
• The athlete was caught using performance-enhancing drugs and had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" by losing all his sponsorships.
• When the company went bankrupt, its employees had to "rob Peter to pay Paul" by not getting paid for several months.

Roots and History

The origin of this idiom is uncertain, but one theory suggests that it comes from a medieval practice in which a feudal lord would take taxes or dues from his vassals and use the funds to support other lords or pay off debts. This practice was often referred to as "robbing Peter to pay Paul" because it involved taking from one person to give to another. Another theory suggests that the idiom comes from a story about St. Peter, who was said to have sold his own cloak to feed a beggar and then had it returned to him by an angel. The story is often told as an example of selflessness and generosity, but some people believe that it also highlights the idea of taking from one person to give to another.

Synonyms in English

• To drain one account or resource to replenish another.
• To steal from one person to give to another.
• To take away resources or support from one group to fund another.
• To divert funds from one area to another.
• To redirect resources from one purpose to another.

Synonyms in other languages

• En français: "Vider un compte pour le remplacer" (to empty an account to fill it up again).
• In Spanish: "Robar de Peter para pagar a Paulo" (to rob Peter to pay Paul).
• In Italian: "Sfarfallare di Peter per pagare Paulo" (to flutter Peter's wings to pay for Paulo).
• In German: "Peter stehlen um Paulo zu zahlen" (to steal from Peter to pay for Paulo).
• In Japanese: "ペーターを監めるとポーランが空いてしまう" (to keep watch over Peter makes Paul's pot break open).

Similar Idioms

• rule out

• raze to the ground

• run across