"beggars can't be choosers" meaning in English

See beggars can't be choosers in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Proverb

Head templates: {{head|en|proverb|head=}} beggars can't be choosers, {{en-proverb}} beggars can't be choosers
  1. (idiomatic) Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available. Tags: idiomatic Synonyms: something is better than nothing, half a loaf is better than none, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, satisfactory Coordinate_terms: Hobson's choice, take it or leave it, my way or the highway Translations (when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts): на хари́зан кон зъ́бите не се гле́дат (na harízan kon zǎ́bite ne se glédat) (Bulgarian), 飢不擇食 (Chinese Mandarin), 饥不择食 (jībùzéshí) (Chinese Mandarin), lepší vrabec v hrsti než holub na střeše (Czech), men mag een gegeven paard niet in de bek zien (Dutch), vaene ei tohi pirtsutada (Estonian), köyhällä ei ole varaa nirsoilla (Finnish), faute de grives, on mange des merles (French), in der Not schmeckt jedes Brot (German), in der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen (German), éhes ember nem válogat (Hungarian), eszi, nem eszi, nem kap mást (Hungarian), ez van, ezt kell szeretni (Hungarian), vandfýsni hæfir ekki snauðum (Icelandic), hafa skal það sem hendi er næst [figuratively] (Icelandic), a caval donato non si guarda in bocca (Italian), برشکور دڠن يڠ اد [Jawi] (Malay), bersyukur dengan yang ada [Rumi] (Malay), jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma (Polish), lepszy rydz niż nic (Polish), lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu (Polish), lepszy wróbel w ręku niż cietrzew na sęku (Polish), lepszy wróbel w ręku niż sokół na sęku (Polish), na bezrybiu i rak ryba (Polish), z braku laku dobry kit (Polish), a cavalo dado não se olha os dentes (Portuguese), nemulțumitului i se ia darul (Romanian), calul de dar nu se caută la dinți (Romanian), бедняки́ не выбира́ют (bednjakí ne vybirájut) (Russian), na dèan àilgheas air tìodhlac (Scottish Gaelic), v sili še hudič muhe žre (Slovene), a caballo regalado no le mires el diente (Spanish), a mucha hambre, no hay pan duro (Spanish), skåda inte given häst i munnen (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-beggars_can't_be_choosers-en-proverb-SJeecpV8 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English proverbs, Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations

Download JSON data for beggars can't be choosers meaning in English (7.2kB)

{
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "proverb",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "beggars can't be choosers",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "beggars can't be choosers",
      "name": "en-proverb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English proverbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with redundant transliterations",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "word": "Hobson's choice"
        },
        {
          "word": "take it or leave it"
        },
        {
          "word": "my way or the highway"
        }
      ],
      "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",
          "should"
        ],
        [
          "accept",
          "accept"
        ],
        [
          "whatever",
          "whatever"
        ],
        [
          "help",
          "help"
        ],
        [
          "available",
          "available"
        ]
      ],
      "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",
          "sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
          "word": "飢不擇食"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "jībùzéshí",
          "sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
          "word": "饥不择食"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
          "word": "lepší vrabec v hrsti než holub na střeše"
        },
        {
          "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": "a caval donato non si guarda in bocca"
        },
        {
          "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": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "proverb",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "beggars can't be choosers",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "beggars can't be choosers",
      "name": "en-proverb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English idioms",
        "English lemmas",
        "English multiword terms",
        "English proverbs",
        "Mandarin terms with redundant transliterations"
      ],
      "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"
        ],
        [
          "themselves",
          "themselves"
        ],
        [
          "should",
          "should"
        ],
        [
          "accept",
          "accept"
        ],
        [
          "whatever",
          "whatever"
        ],
        [
          "help",
          "help"
        ],
        [
          "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",
      "sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
      "word": "飢不擇食"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "jībùzéshí",
      "sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
      "word": "饥不择食"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts",
      "word": "lepší vrabec v hrsti než holub na střeše"
    },
    {
      "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": "a caval donato non si guarda in bocca"
    },
    {
      "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"
}

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