wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen
in for a penny, in for a pound; once you start, you must follow through
Origin
The origin is not clear-cut; the most common explanation is the simple alphabet one: A is the beginning, B the logical continuation. Other suggested derivations (a legal one, or folk tales) are less reliable. The proverb is already attested in Lehmann (1630).
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Regular verbs: er/sie/es-form (stem + -t)Regelmäßige Verben: er/sie/es-Form (Stamm + -t)
- Regular verbs: ihr-form (stem + -t)Regelmäßige Verben: ihr-Form (Stamm + -t)
- Question word 'wie' (how, manner)Fragewort 'wie' (Art und Weise)
- Subordinate clause with 'dass' (that)Nebensatz mit 'dass'
- Modal verb 'müssen' (must/have to)Modalverb 'müssen'
- Conjunction 'aber' (but, contrast)Konjunktion 'aber' (Gegensatz)
Examples
Du hast die angenommen, zahl auch — wer A sagt, muss auch B .
You took the bet, now pay up — in for a penny, in for a pound.