expression
if you can't beat them, join them; you can't fight city hall
Proverb advising that when facing a stronger opponent or authority, it is wiser to go along with them rather than resist. Often used to describe pragmatic submission to power.
上司の意見に反対しても無駄だよ。長い物には巻かれよ、だ。
It's no use opposing the boss's opinion. If you can't beat them, join them.
彼はいつも長い物には巻かれよの精神で、権力者に逆らわない。
He always follows the principle of 'if you can't beat them, join them' and never defies those in power.
The literal meaning is 'wrap yourself around the long thing,' suggesting that when faced with something long and strong, it is better to coil around it than to fight it. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a well-known Japanese proverb.