IdiomDaily Life
Malay
MalayMelepaskan batuk di tangga
Meaning: To do a job half-heartedly and leave it unfinished.
Literally: To cough on the stairs and leave
Example: “Dia mengecat pagar macam melepaskan batuk di tangga.” — He painted the fence, but he was only going through the motions.
English equivalent: To go through the motions
Origin: A Malay peribahasa. In a traditional Malay house built on stilts, the steps lead up to the door, and someone who only coughs on the steps, instead of coming up and in, does the bare minimum. The saying is used of work done half-heartedly and left unfinished.
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- Dutch: er met een jantje-van-leiden van afmaken Literally: To finish it off with a little John from Leiden
English: go through the motions
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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