- English translation
What the small ones start, the big ones get caught in.
- Literal wording
The little ones make it, the big ones fall into it.
- Meaning and lesson
Trouble set in motion by those who count for little, whether in years or in rank, does not stay confined to them. The saying never names what 'it' is, but it is best understood as mischief that spreads until weightier people nearby are drawn in and left to deal with something they never began.
The saying also warns that a matter small at its start can widen into a serious one. A minor provocation therefore deserves attention before it grows beyond the circle of those who caused it.
- When it is used
Fitting when a petty dispute or misdeed among minor parties, such as children or juniors, ends up drawing in parents, seniors, or leaders. It can also remind listeners to settle small friction early, before it reaches people with more at stake.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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