Need help with phrasing a proverb!

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

This is correct only in certain cases like if you trying to clean vegetables or work in your garden get a small piece of thorn or part of it stuck in your skin some where in fingers or arms then using a needle or pin, another thorn shaped item, you pull it out. Perhaps that is the origin of it.

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

'You need a thorn to remove another thorn.'. This is literal version of the Marathi and Hindi proverb.

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

'You need a thorn to remove another thorn.'. This is literal version of the Marathi and Hindi proverb.

Thank you Gulshan, I think this is best way to use the phrase!

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

This is correct only in certain cases like if you trying to clean vegetables or work in your garden get a small piece of thorn or part of it stuck in your skin some where in fingers or arms then using a needle or pin, another thorn shaped item, you pull it out. Perhaps that is the origin of it.

That is probably correct as far as the origins are concerned!

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

This is correct only in certain cases like if you trying to clean vegetables or work in your garden get a small piece of thorn or part of it stuck in your skin some where in fingers or arms then using a needle or pin, another thorn shaped item, you pull it out. Perhaps that is the origin of it.

That is probably correct as far as the origins are concerned!

I have read some where - 'Use a thorn to remove a thorn.'

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

This is correct only in certain cases like if you trying to clean vegetables or work in your garden get a small piece of thorn or part of it stuck in your skin some where in fingers or arms then using a needle or pin, another thorn shaped item, you pull it out. Perhaps that is the origin of it.

That is probably correct as far as the origins are concerned!

The origin as explained by suni is correct. We use this proverb when we use a wicked person to set right another wicked or to set an enemy against another. Enemy's enemy is friend is also derived from such use of wicked persons or enemies.

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

This is correct only in certain cases like if you trying to clean vegetables or work in your garden get a small piece of thorn or part of it stuck in your skin some where in fingers or arms then using a needle or pin, another thorn shaped item, you pull it out. Perhaps that is the origin of it.

That is probably correct as far as the origins are concerned!

The origin as explained by suni is correct. We use this proverb when we use a wicked person to set right another wicked or to set an enemy against another. Enemy's enemy is friend is also derived from such use of wicked persons or enemies.

Yes, actually the phrase is used mainly with reference to the above example you have stated. I think it is also synonymous with using a poison as an antidote for another poison, although I am not sure about it! Yet the meaning is same!

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.

I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.

I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!

Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.

I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!

Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?

You are right but there are some proverbs which are based on figurative interpretations!!! A rolling stone gathers no moss!!!

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

The one that is close to this would be Diamond cuts Diamond which is a well known usage ...how about A thorn to remove a thorn...... :dry:

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

The one that is close to this would be Diamond cuts Diamond which is a well known usage ...how about A thorn to remove a thorn...... :dry:

I also thought of 'diamond....' .And it does come closer to capturing the essence. Here again I have to emphasize the figurative aspect of it!!

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.

I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!

Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?

You are right but there are some proverbs which are based on figurative interpretations!!! A rolling stone gathers no moss!!!

This is 'personification' - a figure of speech. There are different ways to say a thing. How someone uses a phrase depends on his style.

A thorn is used to extract another thorn
embedded in the hand
Like a diamond is used
to cut another diamond.

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

The one that is close to this would be Diamond cuts Diamond which is a well known usage ...how about A thorn to remove a thorn...... :dry:

Yes the phrase diamond cuts a diamond is similar to it and the phrasing you have used for 'A thorn to remove a thorn' is about the closest that I am looking for!! Thanks ! :)

There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!

In Tamil we usually say "Mullai[thorn] Mullal[using thorn] Than Edukka[Remove] Vendum"

In Sanskrit there is a proverb 'Sathe Sathang", be foxy with a fox!! :lol: :lol:

A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P

The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.

I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!

Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?

You are right but there are some proverbs which are based on figurative interpretations!!! A rolling stone gathers no moss!!!

This is 'personification' - a figure of speech. There are different ways to say a thing. How someone uses a phrase depends on his style.

Similes, metaphors, allegories are all parts of our expressions which lift our language to a surreal level. If I use ' a lion 'thunders' instead of 'roars' its impact is terrific. Roaring is a matter-of-fact expression and 'thunders' suggests so many possibilities!!!