二階から目薬 (Nikai kara megusuri)

Meaning: A roundabout effort that has no real effect.

Language: Japanese

Literally: Eye drops from the second floor

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: Trying to drip medicine into an eye from an upstairs window pictures a method too indirect to ever work.

More idioms — Body & Senses

喉から手が出る (Nodo kara te ga deru) — To want something so badly you can hardly bear it.
Μου έφυγε το καφάσι — I was utterly shocked.
Att ha tummen mitt i handen — To be hopelessly clumsy; all thumbs.
Wiercić komuś dziurę w brzuchu — To nag someone relentlessly.
Vetää lonkalta — To improvise; to wing it.
Mít všech pět pohromadě — To be of sound mind.

棚から牡丹餅 (Tana kara botamochi) — An unexpected stroke of good luck.
七転び八起き (Nanakorobi yaoki) — To keep getting up no matter how often you fall.
月とすっぽん (Tsuki to suppon) — Two things alike at a glance but worlds apart.
石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi o tataite wataru) — To be extremely, even excessively, cautious.
釘を刺す (kugi o sasu) — To remind someone firmly so they can't back out.
顔から火が出る (kao kara hi ga deru) — To burn with embarrassment.

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