ögüznü soya kelib quyruğunda biçaq sındırğanlay

/øɡyzny soja kelib qujruʁunda bitʃaq sɯndɯrʁanlaj/

Literal translation

as if, having slaughtered the ox, one broke the knife on its tail

Said of spoiling an undertaking at the very last moment, after having carried it out well up to that point.

Endi bu töş başına bir çığalsaq, kesibizni qutulğanŋa sana da qoy, Tawka... ögüznü soya kelib, quyruğunda biçaq sındırğanlay, ölüb qala uşaybız da.Now if we could just get up onto this ridge — don't even count us as saved, Tauka... it looks as though we shall die like a man who slaughters the ox and then breaks the knife on its tail.
Ölürge ua süymey edim, ögüznü soya ketib, quyruğunda biçaq sındırğanlay, ne tapsız keziwde keterge tüşedi.I had no wish to die, but just as one slaughters the ox and then breaks the knife on its tail, one has to go at the most unfitting moment.

Show sources