üzmezge suw quyğanlay
/yzmezɡe suw qujʁanlaj/
Literal translation
as if pouring water onto sand
Intended meaning
Said of effort or kindness that brings no return and leaves no trace, because the one it was spent on takes no good from it.
- Qıyını üzmezge suw quyğanlay ketib barğan Hızir: «Ho da, ırıshını da Allah juwuq-teŋni quwandırırğa beredi», – dep qoyğan bolmasa, üydegisine bir zamanda da tırman etmegendi.Khyzir, whose labour was draining away as if water poured onto sand, never once reproached his household — he would only say: "Well then, God gives wealth so that it may gladden kin and friends."
Variants
- qumğa suw quyğanlay
- üzmezge suw quyğança bolurğa
Sources
Show sources
- Къарачай-малкъар тилни фразеология ангылатма сёзлюгю (2017), p. 529