if it's not one thing it's another

If a certain thing doesn't go wrong, another most probably will.

When John lost his keys and his wallet, and his car wouldn't start, he exclaimed in despair, "If it's not one thing it's another."

Compare: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER (ODTAA).

No categories:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

» In Russian

To section: I

Subscribe to: American Idioms

✉

Our RSS-channels

Show All

See as well

one damn thing after another

[one damn thing after another] or [ODTAA] (pronounced owed-tay) {n. phr.} If there is one problem, there will be more. * /First I lost my wallet, then a kid broke […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

for one thing

[for one thing] {adv. phr.} As one thing of several; as one in a list of things. * /The teacher said, "You get a low mark, for one thing, because […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

thing or two

[thing or two] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Facts not generally known, or not known to the hearer or reader; unusual or important information. * /Mary told Joan a thing or […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

tell a thing or two

[tell a thing or two] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell in plain or angry words; scold. * /When John complained about the hard work, his father told him a thing […] A Dictionary of American Idioms