- English translation
Do not be intimidated by someone whose abilities you can match.
- Literal wording
Do not fear someone if you can put your foot where he puts his.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying advises against being overawed by a person who is no more capable than oneself. Its image of putting one’s foot where another has put theirs means being able to keep pace, perform the same tasks, or reach comparable standing—not a literal act.
It frames courage as a clear-eyed estimate of relative ability rather than reckless defiance. The point is not that every rival should be dismissed, but that apparent status alone should not make an equal seem formidable.
- When it is used
Use it to encourage someone facing an intimidating peer or competitor whose achievements they can realistically equal. It suits advice calling for self-confidence and composure when another person’s reputation seems more daunting than their actual advantage.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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