Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

In Girl in the Glass, Officer Riggs explains how they are fixing the Valencia’s hull:

“Sadly, we lost supplies that could’ve been used to rebuild the hull. Instead, we’re cannibalizing other parts of the ship, tearing out internal walls to use as patches. The men are careful to avoid anything structural, though we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. The hull’s weakest areas are shored up, far from watertight, but should hold together for the journey home.” 

The exact origin of the phrase "robbing Peter to pay Paul" is debated, but it has been in use since at least the 14th century. It refers to the practice of taking from one person or entity to give to another, often implying a superficial or short-term solution that may lead to further problems. 

The saying most likely stems from references to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, two prominent figures in the Christian faith. Both apostles were martyred in Rome and share the same feast day, June 29th, a day widely celebrated in medieval England.  

One popular, though likely inaccurate, theory links the phrase to a specific event in 16th-century England where funds designated for St. Peter's church (Westminster Abbey) were allegedly diverted to pay for repairs to St. Paul's Cathedral. However, the expression appears in earlier writings, dating back to at least 1380 A.D.