- English translation
A needle cannot stitch with two threads through its eye.
- Literal wording
A needle with two threads in it does not sew.
- Meaning and lesson
The proverb pictures a task that cannot get under way because it depends on two people who may disagree. As the needle needs a single thread to sew, the task needs a clear way forward.
Its warning is about divided responsibility, not cooperation in general. When each person’s assent or action is necessary, a difference between them can leave the work unfinished.
- When it is used
Use it to caution that a plan may stall if two people must agree or act before anything can be done. It is most apt when the concern is conflicting decisions or unclear responsibility, rather than the mere fact that two people are working together.
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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