throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick

English - English

Definition of throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick in English English dictionary

If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against a person (or organisation), his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved

Perhaps If you stuff both of them into a sack and beat on it, you'll always hit the right one! is a bit like our If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. If you attack something enough, then something is bound to take effect (although the mud and the wall one is generally about a person's reputation).

Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful

There used to be a saying that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. Be enthusiastic and you will always sell.

Hyphenation

throw e·nough mud at the wall, some of it will stick

Etymology

() Possibly based on a technique of building wattle and daub walls by throwing daub (mud mixed with straw) at the wattle, throwing hard enough that some obtained a good key and remained in place, (compare slapdash, a pebbledash effect produced by throwing pebbles at a rendered wall). Sense 2 is probably influenced by throw dirt enough, and some will stick.