English · Proverb Attested

you only go around once

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

Also seen as: you only go around once in life

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A person has only one lifetime, and should therefore take every opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of experiences in order to maximize their achievements and satisfaction.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Một người chỉ có một đời, nên tận dụng mọi cơ hội để trải nghiệm và đạt được thành tựu

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Young men washed in the ecstasy of macho male companionship rode a jeep through barren country and embraced at a bar piled up with beer cans. "You only go around once," the announcer said.

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 “you only go around once” mean?

A person has only one lifetime, and should therefore take every opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of experiences in order to maximize their achievements and satisfaction.

Is “you only go around once” formal or informal?

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