猫に小判 (Neko ni koban)

Meaning: Giving something valuable to someone who can't appreciate it.

Language: Japanese

Literally: A gold coin to a cat

Category: Animals

Origin: Edo period proverb. Koban were oval gold coins.

More idioms — Animals

• Estar en la edad del pavo — To be at an awkward teenage phase.
• Estar como una cabra — To be completely crazy.
• Meter la pata — To make a blunder or put your foot in it.
• In bocca al lupo — Good luck! (replied with 'Crepi!' — may it die).
• Chi dorme non piglia pesci — You snooze, you lose.
• 우물 안 개구리 (Umul an gaeguri) — Someone with a narrow, limited worldview.

More Japanese idioms

• 杞憂 (Kiyū) — Unnecessary worry about things that won't happen; baseless anxiety.
• 傍若無人 (Bōjaku-bujin) — Behaving without regard for others' feelings or presence around you.
• 一期一会 (Ichi-go ichi-e) — Treasure each encounter as unique and irreplaceable in life.
• 四面楚歌 (Shimensoka) — Being surrounded by enemies with no hope of escape or support.
• 鯖を読む (Saba o yomu) — To fudge the numbers in your favor, especially your age.
• 油を売る (Abura ouru) — To slack off or dawdle when you should be working.

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