Using a pestle to pick out a thorn
A very
clumsy solution. The wrong choice of tool. Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Poor strategy. Inappropriate approach – unless one has stepped on a spiny
sea-urchin (rambutan laut), in which case the traditional treatment is
to beat one’s foot with a nibong club till the embedded thorns are pulverized… ouch!
sea-urchin (rambutan laut), in which case the traditional treatment is
to beat one’s foot with a nibong club till the embedded thorns are pulverized… ouch!
The pestle broke, the mortar vanished
He who
freezes does not burn. Impotent husbands hardly ever find their wives at home.
The more innocuous interpretation reads: “Not only did the pestle break,
the mortar also vanished.” Double trouble. In other words, it never rains but it pours.
the mortar also vanished.” Double trouble. In other words, it never rains but it pours.
A Russian version goes: “The hammer broke, the sickle vanished.”
90. Kapak
masuk meminang
An ax enters into the nuptial
arrangements
Using a crude
instrument to work out a delicate matter. Bull-in-a-china-shop situation.
When you chop, use a chopping block
Using the
right tool makes easy work. A more homely variant would be
tanak dalam periuk (cook rice in a cooking pot).
92. Seperti
golok kayu, tetak tak makan, jual tak laku
Like a wooden parang (machete), it won’t
cut
and you can’t sell it
and you can’t sell it
An
absolutely useless idea or object. Not worth a brass farthing.
Ill-conceived
project or product.
93. (Seperti) tulis di atas air
(Like) writing on water
Ineffective
gesture. Useless effort. Cutting no ice. Whistling in the wind.
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