every miller draws water to his own mill

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

People are primarily concerned with their own interests.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

As the saying goes, 'every miller draws water to his own mill.'

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “every miller draws water to his own mill” mean?

People are primarily concerned with their own interests.

Is “every miller draws water to his own mill” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.