one may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
If one is going to commit a sin, it may as well be a major one as a minor one.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “one may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb” mean?
If one is going to commit a sin, it may as well be a major one as a minor one.
Is “one may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.