Opportunity knocks but once

Definition

Chances for success or advancement are rare and must be seized when they appear, as they may not come again.

Etymology

This saying evolved from the ancient Roman concept of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, who was depicted with a forelock of hair that could only be grasped from the front - once she passed, she was bald in back and couldn't be caught. The modern English phrase emerged in the 16th century and emphasizes the fleeting nature of favorable circumstances.

Kelly Says

The imagery of opportunity 'knocking' like a visitor at your door creates a vivid metaphor that has spawned countless variations, from 'when one door closes, another opens' to 'opportunity doesn't knock twice.' Interestingly, modern career advice often contradicts this saying, suggesting that persistent people create multiple opportunities rather than waiting for a single perfect moment.

Translations

AMአማርኛ
አስተያየት እንደአንድ ጊዜ ብቻ ይገኛል
as.te.ya.yet.en.de.an.dɛ.ge.zɛ.bɪ.tʃa.yi.ɡɛn.jal
ARالعربية
الفرصة تضرب مرة واحدة
al.far.sa.tu.ḍ.rab.ma.ra.wa.hid
BNবাংলা
সুযোগ একবার আসে
ʃu.jog.ek.bar.a.ʃe
CACatalà
l'oportunitat truca només una vegada
lo.por.tu.ni.tat.tru.ka.no.mes.u.na.ve.gɑ.ða
CSČeština
šance zazvoní jen jednou
ʃan.se.zaz.vɔ.ɲi.jen.jed.nou
DADansk
chancen banker kun en gang
tʃan.sen.ban.ker.kun.ɛn.gɑŋ
DEDeutsch
die Gelegenheit klopft nur einmal
diː ɡə.leɡən.haɪt.klopt.nuːr ˈaɪn.mal
ELΕλληνικά
η ευκαιρία χτυπά μόνο μια φορά
i.ef.kɛ.ri.a.xti.pɑ.mo.na.for.ɑ
ESEspañol
la oportunidad llama solo una vez
la.o.por.tu.ni.dad.ya.ma.so.lo.u.na.vez
FAفارسی
فرصت فقط یک بار می‌آید
for.sat.faqat.yek.bar.mi.a.yad
FISuomi
mahdollisuus koputtaa vain kerran
mah.dol.li.suus.ko.put.taa.vain.ker.ran
FRFrançais
l'occasion ne frappe qu'une fois
lo.kɑ.zjɔ̃.nə.fʁap.kə.fo
GUGU
તક એકવાર આવે છે
tak.ek.va.ar.a.ve.che
HAHA
damar keɓaɓuwa ta zo ɗaya
da.mar.ke.bɑ.bu.wa.ta.zo.ɗa.ya
HEעברית
ההזדמנות מגיעה רק פעם אחת
ha.haz.dam.nut.mɛ.gi.a.rak.pa.am.a.hat
HIहिन्दी
अवसर एक बार ही आता है
a.va.sar.ek.bar.hi.a.ta.hai
HUMagyar
az alkalom csak egyszer kopog
ɑz.ɑ.kalom.tʃak.ɛɟ.ʃer.ko.pog
IDBahasa Indonesia
kesempatan mengetuk hanya sekali
ke.sempa.tan.me.nge.tuk.ha.nya.se.kali
IGIG
ọdịnihu na-atụ ụzọ naanị otu ugboro
o.ɗi.ni.hu.na.a.tu.u.zo.na.a.ni.o.tu.u.gbo.ro
ITItaliano
l'occasione bussa una volta sola
lok.kɑˈzi.o.ne.bus.sa.u.na.vɔl.tɑ.so.la
JA日本語
チャンスは一度だけ
chan.su.wa.i.chi.do.da.ke
KKKK
мүмкіндік бір рет қана
my.mkin.dik.bir.ret.ka.na
KMKM
ឱកាសមកម្តងប៉ុណ្ណោះ
o.ka.hɑɑ.mɔk.mɔɑŋ.po.nɔh
KO한국어
기회는 한 번뿐
gi.hwe.neun.han.beon.ppun
MRMR
संधी एकदा येते
san.dhi.ek.da.ye.te
MSBahasa Melayu
peluang mengetuk hanya sekali
pe.lu.ang.me.nge.tuk.ha.nya.se.kali
MYမြန်မာ
အခွင့်အရေး တစ်ကြိမ်တည်း
a.khwɪ̰.a.ʃe.a.jɛ.tɪʔ.kɹɪ̃.tɛ
NLNederlands
de kans klopt maar één keer aan
de.kans.klopt.ma.ar.ɛn.keer.aan
NONorsk
sjansen banker bare en gang
ʃan.sen.ban.ker.ba.re.ɛn.gɑŋ
PAPA
ਮੌਕਾ ਇਕ ਵਾਰੀ ਆਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ
mau.ka.ik.va.ri.a.un.da.hai
PLPolski
szansa dzwoni tylko raz
ʂan.sa.dzvɔ.ɲi.tɨl.ko.rɑz
PTPortuguês
a oportunidade bate apenas uma vez
a.o.por.tu.ni.dade.ba.te.a.penas.u.ma.vez
RORomână
oportunitatea bate o singură dată
o.por.tu.ni.tɑ.te.ba.te.o.sin.gu.rɑ.da.tɑ
RUРусский
удача приходит только один раз
u.dɐ.tʃa.pri.xo.dit.tol.ko.od.in.rɑz
SVSvenska
chansen knackar bara en gång
tʃan.sen.knak.ar.ba.ra.ɛn.goŋ
SWKiswahili
fursa inatia siku moja tu
fur.sa.i.na.tia.siku.mo.ja.tu
TAதமிழ்
வாய்ப்பு ஒருமுறை மட்டுமே
va.yppu.o.ru.murai.mat.tum.ɛ
TEతెలుగు
అవకాశం ఒకసారి మాత్రమే
a.va.ka.ʃam.o.kɑ.sa.ri.ma.trɑ.mɛ
THไทย
โอกาสมาเพียงครั้งเดียว
o.kat.ma.piang.khrang.diao
TLTL
ang pagkakataon ay tumatok lamang minsan
ang.pag.ka.kɑ.tɑ.on.ay.tu.matok.la.mang.min.san
TRTürkçe
fırsat tek bir kez çalar
fɯr.sat.tek.bir.kez.tʃa.lar
UKУкраїнська
шанс приходить тільки один раз
ʃans.pri.xo.dit.tol.ko.od.in.rɑz
URاردو
موقع یک بار ہی آتا ہے
mu.ka.tɛk.bar.hi.a.ta.hɛ
VITiếng Việt
cơ hội chỉ đến một lần
kơ.hôi.chi.đến.một.lần
YOYO
ọ̀rọ̀ ń bọ̀ wọ́n lọ́kan ò jẹ
o.ro.ni.bo.won.lo.kan.o.je
ZH中文
机不可失
jī.bù.kě.shī
ZUZU
isikhathi esibiza ngovalo
i.si.kha.thi.e.si.bi.za.nɡo.va.lo

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