wenn schon, denn schon

German

Etymology

Literally: “if already, then already”, or more properly “if at all, then actually”, from a phrase such as Wenn wir es schon machen, dann lass es uns schon auch richtig machen. (“If we do it at all, then let us actually do it right.”). Denn is used regionally for dann, chiefly in northern Germany.

Phrase

wenn schon, denn schon

1. if we do it, then let’s do it right; in for a penny, in for a pound

Descendants

• Hebrew: אם כבר אז כבר (im kvar az kvar)