棒ぼうほど願ねがって針はりほど叶かなう

expression, godan verb (-u)

you can't always get what you want; man plans and God laughs; things don't always turn out the way you hope

Proverb expressing that one's wishes are often much larger than what actually comes true; literally 'wish for a pole, get a needle'.

• 宝たからくじで一いち億おく円えん当あてたいと思おもったが、棒ぼうほど願ねがって針はりほど叶かなうで、結けっ局きょく三さん百びゃく円えんしか当あたらなかった。

  I wanted to win 100 million yen in the lottery, but as the saying goes, you wish for a pole and get a needle—I ended up winning only 300 yen.