Idiom – Can’t Beat Them, Join Them

Can’t Beat Them, Join Them – Idiom of the Day

Meaning:

If you are unable to defeat your opponents, might as well work with them, or do what they do, and thereby benefit.

Origin:

The oldest use of this expression is in the Atlantic Monthly Magazine in 1932. Beyond that, its origins are shrouded in mystery.

Examples:

• Chuck: I thought you said you’d never join social media.
  • Mike: Yeah, but everybody else has, so if you can’t beat them, join them, I guess.

• Jill: I just got a kitten.
  • Jane: I can’t believe it! You used to hate people who owned cats.
  • Jill: If you can’t beat them, join them.
• Everyone seems to be buying these newfangled electric cars. I guess I better get mine too. If you can’t beat them, join them.
• Jim: Hey, Don! I heard you’re a Republican now.
  • Don: Yeah, I thought to myself, if you can’t beat them, join them.
• I guess everyone’s going to vote Aruba for the company getaway, so I will too. You know what they say, if you can’t beat them, join them.
• With rising support for tighter immigration restrictions, the liberal party decided to cave in. After all, if you can’t beat them, join them.
• When asked why he is willing to help the new Government in formulating policy, the Opposition Leader simply said, if you can’t beat them, join them.