rob peter to pay paul
Meaning
To solve one problem by taking resources from another person or area, thereby shifting or creating a new problem elsewhere.
Origin
An old English proverb referring to Saints Peter and Paul; likely arose from medieval or early modern disputes about transferring funds between churches or parishes, used figuratively since early modern English.
Notes
Negative nuance; implies a short-term fix that shifts the problem elsewhere. Common in political/business criticism. Neutral-to-informal register; can sound accusatory when applied to people.
Examples
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The city council cut park maintenance to pay for the stadium — it's just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
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You can't keep robbing Peter to pay Paul; eventually the debts will catch up.
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They robbed Peter to pay Paul by transferring money from the maintenance fund to cover payroll.
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Using a payday loan to pay off a credit card is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
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That cost-cutting plan feels like robbing Peter to pay Paul rather than fixing the real problem.
Grammar & Usage Notes
A relatively fixed idiom: 'rob Peter to pay Paul' or gerund 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'. Proper nouns usually capitalized. Variants include 'rob one to pay another'. Used as verb phrase or clause.
Synonyms
- rob one to pay another
- borrow from Peter to pay Paul
- shift the burden
- kick the can down the road
- paper over the cracks
Antonyms
- plan ahead
- save for the future
- solve sustainably
- pay off debts responsibly
- balanced budgeting