wasch mich, aber mach mich nicht nass
German
Etymology
Literally: “wash me, but don't get me wet”.
Proverb
wasch mich, aber mach mich nicht nass
- Used of someone who wants some good or advantage, but does not want the contemporary inconvenience that it requires; somewhat like have one's cake and eat it
- Erst beschweren sie sich über die schlechten Straßen und dann über die Baustellen! — Tja, wasch mich, aber mach mich nicht nass!
- First they complain about the bad roads and then about the road works! — Well, wash me, but don't get me wet!