IdiomDaily Life
Russian
Russianв Тулу со своим самоваром (v Tulu so svoim samovarom)
Meaning: To do something pointless or wasteful; to bring something unnecessary or redundant to a place that already has it in abundance.
Literally: To Tula with one's own samovar
Example: “Везти сыр во Францию — это в Тулу со своим самоваром.” — Taking cheese to France is carrying coals to Newcastle.
English equivalent: To carry coals to Newcastle
Other ways to say this
German: Eulen nach Athen tragen Literally: To carry owls to Athens- Russian: в лес дрова возить (v les drova vozit') Literally: To bring firewood to the forest
English: carry coals to Newcastle
Origin: Tula, a Russian city famous for its metalwork and samovars, would have no need for someone to bring a samovar there. The phrase parallels the English 'coals to Newcastle.'
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