Melepaskan batuk di tangga
Meaning: To do a job half-heartedly and leave it unfinished.
Language: Malay
Literally: To cough on the stairs and leave
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Pausing only to cough on the steps instead of completing the task pictures sloppy, incomplete work.
Equivalents in other languages
- Russian: работать спустя рукава (rabotat' spustya rukava) — literally: to work with sleeves let down
- Dutch: Iets met de Franse slag doen — literally: To do something with the French stroke
- Icelandic: Að kasta til höndunum — literally: To throw with your hands
More idioms — Daily Life
- Haraka haraka haina baraka — Haste makes waste.
- Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame — You must work and humble yourself for what you want.
- Penye nia pana njia — Determination always finds a path.
- Codi pais ar ôl piso — Fretting over what's already done.
- Ní neart go cur le chéile — Strength comes from working together.
- Imíonn an tuirse is fanann an tairbhe — Hard work's reward outlasts the toil.
More Malay idioms
- Kacang lupakan kulit — To forget your roots and origins.
- Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi — Betrayed by the very one you trusted to protect you.
- Bagai pinang dibelah dua — Two people perfectly alike or well matched.
- Bagai aur dengan tebing — A mutually supportive relationship.
- Ada udang di sebalik batu — There is a hidden motive.
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