One idea · 3 languages

“Spin one's wheels”in other languages

Work hard without getting anywhere.

  • English
  • French
  • Italian
English
spin one's wheels
French
Enfiler des perles literally To thread pearls Pédaler dans la semoule literally To pedal in the semolina
Italian
girare a vuoto literally To turn at empty
Behind the words

Same idea, different pictures

English and Italian spin uselessly: car wheels in mud, or an engine turning in neutral, girare a vuoto. French pedals in semolina, pédaler dans la semoule, a cyclist getting nowhere.

French also threads pearls, enfiler des perles: busywork that keeps your hands moving and gets nothing done.

Keep exploring

More sayings in other languages

Browse all idioms