if the mountain will not come to Mohammed
proverb One must change one's actions accordingly if things do not proceed as one would like them to. A shortening of the phrase "If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain." You'll have to go woo investors if they won't come to you. If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. A: "You want to reconcile with your sister, right?" B: "Yeah, but I don't want to make the first move." A: "Well, if the mountain will not come to Mohammed…." If this is something you really want, you're going to have to make more of an effort. Remember, if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
if Mohammed will not go to the mountain
or the mountain must go to Mohammed
People use expressions such as if Mohammed will not go to the mountain or the mountain must go to Mohammed to say that if someone that you want to see does not come to you, you have to go to them. People, for whatever reason, are reluctant to leave their houses to vote, so if Mohammed won't go to the mountain, we have to go to them. Fifteen minutes later, Chotas walked into the office of the Prosecuting Attorney. `Well,' Demonides said. `Mohammed comes to the mountain. What can I do for you?' Note: The full expression is `if Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must go to Mohammed'. Note: These expressions are based on a story about the prophet Mohammed, who was asked to show his power by making Mount Safa come to him.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012