Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

rob-peter-to-pay-paul

idiom

/ˈrɒb ˈpiːtər tə peɪ ˈpɔːl/

Definition

To take money from one source to pay another, often leading to a cycle of debt.

Examples

His decision to rob Peter to pay Paul only worsened his financial situation.
In trying to manage his debts, he felt he was just robbing Peter to pay Paul every month.

Meaning

This phrase refers to the act of solving a financial problem by taking away resources from one area to cover another, thereby not addressing the underlying issue.