For the sake of a nail

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on February 02, 2006

In Reply to: For the sake of a nail posted by kirsty on February 02, 2006

: can you find out the meanig of this phrase for me as I have tryed everything. "for the sake of a nail a shoe was lost, for the sake of a shoe a hourse was lost, foe the sake of a hourse the battle was lost"

It means that small accidents, or minor acts of carelessness, can have big consequences. The standard full version of the rhyme is this:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

• Butterfly effect Lewis 02/February/06
  • Butterfly effect Bob 02/February/06