English idiom for 'bad consequences stemming from too much ambition'












0














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).










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  • There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
    – Chappo
    27 mins ago
















0














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).










share|improve this question






















  • There must be a line from Shakespeare's Macbeth that suits...
    – Chappo
    27 mins ago














0












0








0







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).










share|improve this question













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






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share|improve this question










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


















  • 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










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















2














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.






share|improve this answer





























    0














    I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















    • 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











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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2














    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.






    share|improve this answer


























      2














      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.






      share|improve this answer
























        2












        2








        2






        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.






        share|improve this answer












        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.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 4 hours ago









        KJO

        2,464316




        2,464316

























            0














            I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.


















            • 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
















            0














            I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.


















            • 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














            0












            0








            0






            I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            I can't think of an exact idiom, but "Live by the sword, die by the sword" came to mind.







            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer






            New contributor




            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered 4 hours ago









            Micah

            213




            213




            New contributor




            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





            New contributor





            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            Micah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.












            • 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










            • 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


















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