IdiomFood & Drink
Thai
Thaiตำน้ำพริกละลายแม่น้ำ
Meaning: To squander resources for nothing.
Literally: To pound chili paste and dissolve it in the river
Example: “ลงโฆษณาในที่ที่ไม่มีลูกค้าก็เหมือนตำน้ำพริกละลายแม่น้ำ” — Advertising where there are no customers is throwing money down the drain.
English equivalent: To throw money down the drain
Origin: Nam phrik is a chili paste pounded with care in a mortar. Pounding it and then dissolving it in a river wastes all that work and every ingredient. The Thai saying is used of money or effort squandered for nothing.
Equivalents in other languages
Polish: wyrzucić pieniądze w błoto Literally: To throw money into mud
French: Jeter l'argent par les fenêtres Literally: To throw money out of the windows
English: throw money down the drain
More Thai idioms
- ขี่ช้างจับตั๊กแตน To use enormous means for a trivial result.
- น้ำขึ้นให้รีบตัก Seize an opportunity while it lasts.
- ชักแม่น้ำทั้งห้า To give a long-winded, roundabout justification before getting to the point.
- จับปลาสองมือ To chase two goals at once and risk losing both.
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