IdiomDaily Life
Lithuanian
LithuanianPilstyti iš tuščio į kiaurą
Meaning: To do utterly futile work.
Literally: To pour from the empty into the leaky
Example: “Ginčytis su juo yra pilstyti iš tuščio į kiaurą.” — Arguing with him is beating a dead horse.
English equivalent: To beat a dead horse
Origin: Pouring from an empty vessel into one with a hole in it is doing work that achieves nothing twice over. The phrase is said of pointless effort or talk. No particular story lies behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
Croatian: Mlatiti praznu slamu Literally: To thresh empty straw
Arabic: يضرب في حديد بارد (yadrib fi hadid barid) Literally: To strike cold iron
English: beat a dead horse
More Lithuanian idioms
- Sukti galvą To rack your brains.
- Vilką minim, vilkas čia Speak of the devil.
- Nei į tvorą, nei į mietą Neither here nor there; completely irrelevant.
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- Без царя в голове (Bez tsarya v golove) Foolish and reckless — with no one in charge upstairs.
- Cabeça de alho chocho A forgetful scatterbrain whose thoughts won't stay put.
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
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