English idiom for 'bad consequences stemming from too much ambition'
I'm looking for an idiom that is equivalent to the Portuguese:
Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.
Who wants everything, loses everything.
It basically points out that being too ambitious will have bad consequences: not only does one not get what one's striving for, but one also ends up losing what one already had (and probably took for granted).
idiom-requests
add a comment |
I'm looking for an idiom that is equivalent to the Portuguese:
Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.
Who wants everything, loses everything.
It basically points out that being too ambitious will have bad consequences: not only does one not get what one's striving for, but one also ends up losing what one already had (and probably took for granted).
idiom-requests
There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
– Chappo
27 mins ago
add a comment |
I'm looking for an idiom that is equivalent to the Portuguese:
Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.
Who wants everything, loses everything.
It basically points out that being too ambitious will have bad consequences: not only does one not get what one's striving for, but one also ends up losing what one already had (and probably took for granted).
idiom-requests
I'm looking for an idiom that is equivalent to the Portuguese:
Quem tudo quer, tudo perde.
Who wants everything, loses everything.
It basically points out that being too ambitious will have bad consequences: not only does one not get what one's striving for, but one also ends up losing what one already had (and probably took for granted).
idiom-requests
idiom-requests
asked 6 hours ago
Sara Costa
1,614123243
1,614123243
There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
– Chappo
27 mins ago
add a comment |
There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
– Chappo
27 mins ago
There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
– Chappo
27 mins ago
There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
– Chappo
27 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Nearest equivalent is grasp all, lose all
which reflects Aesops “Much wants more and loses all.”
and a more modern version by Vikrant Parsai He who wants everything every time will lose everything any time.
add a comment |
I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.
New contributor
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
1
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Nearest equivalent is grasp all, lose all
which reflects Aesops “Much wants more and loses all.”
and a more modern version by Vikrant Parsai He who wants everything every time will lose everything any time.
add a comment |
Nearest equivalent is grasp all, lose all
which reflects Aesops “Much wants more and loses all.”
and a more modern version by Vikrant Parsai He who wants everything every time will lose everything any time.
add a comment |
Nearest equivalent is grasp all, lose all
which reflects Aesops “Much wants more and loses all.”
and a more modern version by Vikrant Parsai He who wants everything every time will lose everything any time.
Nearest equivalent is grasp all, lose all
which reflects Aesops “Much wants more and loses all.”
and a more modern version by Vikrant Parsai He who wants everything every time will lose everything any time.
answered 4 hours ago
KJO
2,464316
2,464316
add a comment |
add a comment |
I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.
New contributor
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
1
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
add a comment |
I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.
New contributor
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
1
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
add a comment |
I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.
New contributor
I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 4 hours ago
Micah
213
213
New contributor
New contributor
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
1
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
add a comment |
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
1
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Thanks for the suggestion, but I need something a little less war-like. If you can think of anything that focuses more on greed...
– Sara Costa
4 hours ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
Seems like you're thinking of karma. There is a Pyrrhic victory, but it doesn't have the connotation of retribution you seem to be looking for. Sadly, Americans might value greed too much to have the saying you seek. Collins Dictionary. Word forms: Pyrrhic victories countable noun If you describe a victory as a Pyrrhic victory, you mean that although someone has won or gained something, they have also lost something that was worth even more.
– Micah
1 hour ago
1
1
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
Hi Micah, welcome to EL&U. This isn't a bad start, but it's too short: the system has flagged it as "low-quality because of its length and content." An answer on EL&U is expected to be authoritative, detailed, and explain why it is correct. Can I suggest you edit your answer to provide more information - e.g., add a published definition or etymology for the idiom? For further guidance, see How to Answer. :-)
– Chappo
24 mins ago
add a comment |
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There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
– Chappo
27 mins ago