Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it

English translation: you have to overcome the problem before it overcomes you

16:32 Feb 8, 2007

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / maxim

English term or phrase: Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it

Here's what you've got to do with your worries: drive them into a small corner. ****Whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it****. Whatever is pushing on you, you've got to push back.

Of course I got the global meaning of it, but I'd like to be as accurate as possible in my translation. How would you put this in other words? Do you know a proverb/maxim which has the same meaning?

Thanks in advance for your kind help

Michel A. KudoZ activity Questions: 406 (1 open) (71 closed without grading) Answers: 4299
Local time: 10:37

Selected answer:you have to overcome the problem before it overcomes you

Explanation:
A couple of sayings come to mind, though they aren't quite right for this:
"Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you"
and
"Do others or they'll do you" (parody of the Biblical injunction to do unto others as you would have others do unto you).

Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:37

Grading comment

Thanks a lot to all of you, plenty of good explanations & suggestions...
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +11

you have to overcome the problem before it overcomes you

Jack Doughty

4 +4

eat or be eaten

Alexander Demyanov

4 +1

Carpe diem

Will Matter

grab life by the horns

Aisha Maniar

don't throw in the towel

Inge Dijkstra

Answers

2 mins confidence:

whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it grab life by the horns

Explanation:
as opposed to the proverbial bull...just a suggestion...the idea is that you've got to get the better of whatever is bothering you, instead of letting it get the better of you.
Also to overcome your problems/issues or get on top of them

Aisha Maniar
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

8 mins confidence:

whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it don't throw in the towel

Explanation:
maybe another option ...

Inge Dijkstra
Netherlands
Local time: 16:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: Dutch

12 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +11

whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it

you have to overcome the problem before it overcomes you

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:37
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 370

Grading comment

Thanks a lot to all of you, plenty of good explanations & suggestions...

26 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it Carpe diem

Explanation:
It's hard to cover this with just one standard proverb. This is one alternate suggestion. "Where there's a will there's a way" and "Faint heart never won fair lady" might also be considered as partly applicable. The point is, kill the problem before the problem kills you and throw everything you have at it. Bonne chance. HTH.

Will Matter
United States
Local time: 07:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 32

53 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

whatever is out to get you, you've got to get it eat or be eaten

Explanation:
-

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Note added at 55 mins (2007-02-08 17:28:07 GMT)
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Actually, "kill or be killed" is also widely used.

Alexander Demyanov
Local time: 10:37
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in category: 28

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