idiom
Rob Peter to Pay Paul
rob PEE-ter too pay pawl
/rɒb ˈpiːtər tuː peɪ pɔːl/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
robPetertopayPaul
Dictionary meaning
To solve one financial or practical problem by creating another equally serious one; to borrow or take from one source in order to pay off a debt to another, leaving yourself no better off overall.
Examples
- He took out a payday loan to cover the credit card bill — robbing Peter to pay Paul.
- The government's plan to fund the new hospital by cutting education was criticised as robbing Peter to pay Paul.
People also look up
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