it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
If a person is determined to punish or blame someone, they will find a way or a reason to do so.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Nếu ai đó muốn phạt hoặc đổ lỗi, họ sẽ tìm cách hoặc lý do
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The ancient Prouerbe will be well effected,
A Staffe is quickly found to beat a Dogge.
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 “it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog” mean?
If a person is determined to punish or blame someone, they will find a way or a reason to do so.
Is “it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.