IdiomDaily Life
Serbian
SerbianТрла баба лан (Trla baba lan)
Meaning: Pointless busywork done just to pass the time.
Literally: Granny rubbed flax
Example: “Састанак је био трла баба лан да прође време.” — The meeting was just empty talk to pass the time.
Origin: Short for trla baba lan da joj prođe dan, "granny scutched flax to make the day go by." Beating flax was slow, endless work, and the rhyming saying is used of activity that serves only to pass the time, or talk that leads nowhere.
More Serbian idioms
- Пасти с Марса (Pasti s Marsa) To be totally out of touch with what's going on.
- Мува без главе (Muva bez glave) To rush about chaotically and without direction.
- Држати свећу (Držati sveću) To be the awkward third wheel to a couple.
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