A peg for every hole.
A peg for every hole.
Meaning in plain English
A peg for each hole pictures fitting responses to different needs. Look for an appropriate match rather than assuming one method serves every task.
Example
A workshop checks each repair separately instead of using the same spare part for every damaged item.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The holes suggest distinct places needing something that fits. A practical interpretation examines the purpose, dimensions or constraints of each task before choosing a response. The proverb can encourage resourcefulness, but it does not promise that a solution is already available or that every person should be assigned a fixed role. Some needs call for redesign, additional support or an honest admission that the present tools do not fit.
When to use it
Use it when different requirements call for appropriately matched responses.
Keep in mind
A metaphorical fit does not prove that every problem has an immediate solution.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 7; French section, paragraph 132; source wording: Autant de trous, autant de chevilles.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗