English Explanatory Dictionary

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

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.
  2. If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, their reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved

Word forms

throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick throw enough 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.

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