he who fights and runs away may live to fight another day

he who fights and runs away may live to fight another day

proverb If one is overmatched, it is better to retreat than continuing to fight. You definitely did the right thing by running away—that bully is so much bigger than you! He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day. The boss wasn't receptive to any of my suggestions today, so I'll table them for now and try again in the future. He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day, after all. You're not a coward! Your life was in danger, and he who fights and runs away may live to fight another day.

See also: and, another, away, fight, he, live, may, run, to, who

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day.

Prov. It may be cowardly to run away from a fight, but running away gives you a better chance of surviving. The school bully told Phillip to meet him in the playground after school, but Phillip didn't keep the appointment. When his friends called him a coward, Phillip shrugged and said, "He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day."

See also: and, another, fight, he, live, may, run, to, who

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.