English Explanatory Dictionary

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

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. To attempt the same strategy or technique (or similar ones) 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 a person (or an organization), their reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved.

Word forms

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

Etymology

Connected with both throw things at the wall and see what sticks and throw dirt enough, and some will stick. Regarding this "mud" term in particular, it may possibly reference 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.

Related words

throw dirt enough, and some will stick throw things at the wall and see what sticks throw spaghetti at the wall mudslinging mud sticks I'm rubber, you're glue a lie can run around the world before the truth can get its boots on give a dog a bad name and hang him
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