every little helps

English

Alternative forms

• every little bit helps

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Proverb

every little helps

1. (UK) Even the smallest things are helpful when towards a goal.
   • 1980, Bernard MacLaverty, 'Lamb' (novel), (Chapter 1, at page 11 in the 1981 King Penguin paperback edition):

     "There's not much money - if that's what you mean."
     "Approximately."
     "Once all the debts are paid there will be very little."
     "Nevertheless. Every little helps. The Brothers are sorely in need of it this weather."

Synonyms

• many a mickle makes a muckle
• take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves
• a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
• little and often fills the purse

Translations

even the smallest things are helpful when towards a goal

• Catalan: tota pedra fa paret
• Danish: mange bække små gør en stor å
• Dutch: alle beetjes helpen (literally “all bits help”)
• Finnish: vähäkin auttaa, karttuisa on kansan käsi
• French: les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières (fr)
• Hungarian: sok kicsi sokra megy (hu)
• Irish: bailíonn brobh beart
• Korean: 모든 조그만한 것은 도움이 된다 (modeun jogeumanhan geoseun doumi doenda), 모든 조그만한 것은 도움이 된다 (modeun jogeumanhan geoseun doumi doenda)
• Polish: wszystko pomaga
• Scottish Gaelic: togar càrn mòr de chlachan beaga
• Spanish: un grano no hace granero, pero ayuda al compañero
• Turkish: damlaya damlaya göl olur