See beggars can't be choosers on Wiktionary
{
"head_templates": [
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"expansion": "beggars can't be choosers",
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"pos": "proverb",
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"kind": "other",
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"kind": "other",
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],
"coordinate_terms": [
{
"word": "Hobson's choice"
},
{
"word": "take it or leave it"
},
{
"word": "my way or the highway"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.3, at p.60",
"text": "Mo went online and found me a beggars-can't-be-choosers flight out of Denver: a 5.45 a.m. takeoff, a three-hour layover at O'Hare. I'd land in Hartford by late afternoon.\n\"I'll be fine,\" I said. \"Drink a lot of coffee, drive right from school to the airport. I can crash once I get on the plane.\" She frowned. \"Okay, let me rephrase that. I can sleep once I get on the plane.\""
}
],
"glosses": [
"Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available."
],
"id": "en-beggars_can't_be_choosers-en-proverb-SJeecpV8",
"links": [
[
"Something is better than nothing",
"something is better than nothing"
],
[
"those",
"those"
],
[
"can't",
"can't"
],
[
"provide",
"provide"
],
[
"themselves",
"themselves"
],
[
"should",
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],
[
"accept",
"accept"
],
[
"whatever",
"whatever"
],
[
"help",
"help"
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[
"available",
"available"
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],
"raw_glosses": [
"(idiomatic) Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "something is better than nothing"
},
{
"word": "half a loaf is better than none"
},
{
"word": "don't look a gift horse in the mouth"
},
{
"word": "satisfactory"
}
],
"tags": [
"idiomatic"
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "na harízan kon zǎ́bite ne se glédat",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "на хари́зан кон зъ́бите не се гле́дат"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "jībùzéshí",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "飢不擇食 /饥不择食"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "darovanému koni na zuby nehleď"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "men mag een gegeven paard niet in de bek zien"
},
{
"code": "et",
"lang": "Estonian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "vaene ei tohi pirtsutada"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "köyhällä ei ole varaa nirsoilla"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "faute de grives, on mange des merles"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "in der Not schmeckt jedes Brot"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "in der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "éhes ember nem válogat"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "eszi, nem eszi, nem kap mást"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "ez van, ezt kell szeretni"
},
{
"code": "is",
"lang": "Icelandic",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "vandfýsni hæfir ekki snauðum"
},
{
"code": "is",
"lang": "Icelandic",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"tags": [
"figuratively"
],
"word": "hafa skal það sem hendi er næst"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "questo passa il convento"
},
{
"code": "ms",
"lang": "Malay",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"tags": [
"Jawi"
],
"word": "برشکور دڠن يڠ اد"
},
{
"code": "ms",
"lang": "Malay",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"tags": [
"Rumi"
],
"word": "bersyukur dengan yang ada"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy rydz niż nic"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy wróbel w ręku niż cietrzew na sęku"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy wróbel w ręku niż sokół na sęku"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "na bezrybiu i rak ryba"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "z braku laku dobry kit"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "a cavalo dado não se olha os dentes"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "nemulțumitului i se ia darul"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "calul de dar nu se caută la dinți"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "bednjakí ne vybirájut",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "бедняки́ не выбира́ют"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "na dèan àilgheas air tìodhlac"
},
{
"code": "sl",
"lang": "Slovene",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "v sili še hudič muhe žre"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "a caballo regalado no le mires el diente"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "a mucha hambre, no hay pan duro"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "skåda inte given häst i munnen"
}
]
}
],
"word": "beggars can't be choosers"
}
{
"coordinate_terms": [
{
"word": "Hobson's choice"
},
{
"word": "take it or leave it"
},
{
"word": "my way or the highway"
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "beggars can't be choosers",
"name": "en-proverb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "proverb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
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"English idioms",
"English lemmas",
"English multiword terms",
"English proverbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Czech translations",
"Terms with Dutch translations",
"Terms with Estonian translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with French translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Hungarian translations",
"Terms with Icelandic translations",
"Terms with Italian translations",
"Terms with Malay translations",
"Terms with Mandarin translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Romanian translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Scottish Gaelic translations",
"Terms with Slovene translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations"
],
"examples": [
{
"ref": "2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.3, at p.60",
"text": "Mo went online and found me a beggars-can't-be-choosers flight out of Denver: a 5.45 a.m. takeoff, a three-hour layover at O'Hare. I'd land in Hartford by late afternoon.\n\"I'll be fine,\" I said. \"Drink a lot of coffee, drive right from school to the airport. I can crash once I get on the plane.\" She frowned. \"Okay, let me rephrase that. I can sleep once I get on the plane.\""
}
],
"glosses": [
"Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available."
],
"links": [
[
"Something is better than nothing",
"something is better than nothing"
],
[
"those",
"those"
],
[
"can't",
"can't"
],
[
"provide",
"provide"
],
[
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"themselves"
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"should",
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[
"accept",
"accept"
],
[
"whatever",
"whatever"
],
[
"help",
"help"
],
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"available",
"available"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(idiomatic) Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available."
],
"tags": [
"idiomatic"
]
}
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "something is better than nothing"
},
{
"word": "half a loaf is better than none"
},
{
"word": "don't look a gift horse in the mouth"
},
{
"word": "satisfactory"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "na harízan kon zǎ́bite ne se glédat",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "на хари́зан кон зъ́бите не се гле́дат"
},
{
"code": "cmn",
"lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
"roman": "jībùzéshí",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "飢不擇食 /饥不择食"
},
{
"code": "cs",
"lang": "Czech",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "darovanému koni na zuby nehleď"
},
{
"code": "nl",
"lang": "Dutch",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "men mag een gegeven paard niet in de bek zien"
},
{
"code": "et",
"lang": "Estonian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "vaene ei tohi pirtsutada"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "köyhällä ei ole varaa nirsoilla"
},
{
"code": "fr",
"lang": "French",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "faute de grives, on mange des merles"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "in der Not schmeckt jedes Brot"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "in der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "éhes ember nem válogat"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "eszi, nem eszi, nem kap mást"
},
{
"code": "hu",
"lang": "Hungarian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "ez van, ezt kell szeretni"
},
{
"code": "is",
"lang": "Icelandic",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "vandfýsni hæfir ekki snauðum"
},
{
"code": "is",
"lang": "Icelandic",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"tags": [
"figuratively"
],
"word": "hafa skal það sem hendi er næst"
},
{
"code": "it",
"lang": "Italian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "questo passa il convento"
},
{
"code": "ms",
"lang": "Malay",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"tags": [
"Jawi"
],
"word": "برشکور دڠن يڠ اد"
},
{
"code": "ms",
"lang": "Malay",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"tags": [
"Rumi"
],
"word": "bersyukur dengan yang ada"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy rydz niż nic"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy wróbel w ręku niż cietrzew na sęku"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "lepszy wróbel w ręku niż sokół na sęku"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "na bezrybiu i rak ryba"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "z braku laku dobry kit"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "a cavalo dado não se olha os dentes"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "nemulțumitului i se ia darul"
},
{
"code": "ro",
"lang": "Romanian",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "calul de dar nu se caută la dinți"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"roman": "bednjakí ne vybirájut",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "бедняки́ не выбира́ют"
},
{
"code": "gd",
"lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "na dèan àilgheas air tìodhlac"
},
{
"code": "sl",
"lang": "Slovene",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "v sili še hudič muhe žre"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "a caballo regalado no le mires el diente"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "a mucha hambre, no hay pan duro"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
"word": "skåda inte given häst i munnen"
}
],
"word": "beggars can't be choosers"
}
Download raw JSONL data for beggars can't be choosers meaning in All languages combined (7.9kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-01-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-01-01 using wiktextract (b941637 and 4230888). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.