misfortunes never come singly
1
used to imply that problems or difficulties tend to occur in clusters or sequences, rather than as isolated incidents
The origin of the proverb "misfortunes never come singly" can be traced to old European wisdom, with similar ideas appearing in various languages over centuries. It reflects the common experience that when something goes wrong, additional difficulties tend to follow, making a bad situation feel even worse. This proverb serves as a reminder to remain resilient during difficult times, as setbacks often appear in succession but can still be overcome with patience and determination.
- John was having a bad day when his car broke down, and then he found out he'd been laid off from work as well.He sighed and said that misfortunes never come singly.