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rob peter to pay paul

To solve a problem in a way that makes another problem worse.

Etymology:

  • The expression refers to times before the Reformation when Church taxes had to be paid from St. Paul's church in London and to St. Peter's church in Rome; originally it referred to neglecting the Peter tax in order to have money to pay the Paul tax. This etymology is disputed.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Translation

Find a translation for the rob peter to pay paul phrase in other languages:

røv Peter til at betale Paul

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to rob peter to pay paul

pay the billsyou get what you pay forpeter outpay packetwouldn't pay a quarter to see jesus rid…pay through the noserob the cradlepay packetpay the fiddlerPay Through the Nosepay the freightpay the fiddlerpay uppay the piper

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