rob Peter to pay Paul

Definition & Meaning of "[rob] Peter (to|and) [pay] Paul"

to rob peter to pay paul

to take from one source or person in order to fulfill an obligation or debt to another source or person, often resulting in a cycle of borrowing or rearranging debts without actually resolving the underlying financial issue

to [rob] Peter (to|and) [pay] Paul definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "Rob Peter to pay Paul" and when to use it?

The idiom "rob Peter to pay Paul" originated from the historical practice of taking funds from one church (dedicated to Saint Peter) to support another (dedicated to Saint Paul). The idiom is now used to describe a situation where someone attempts to solve a financial problem or debt by borrowing or taking from one source, but this action may create a new problem or debt elsewhere. It highlights the short-term nature of such solutions and the potential for unintended consequences.