at ayağı da boqlaydı suw
/at ajaʁɯ da boqlajdɯ suw/
Literal translation
even a horse's foot dirties the water
Intended meaning
Even a worthless or insignificant person is capable of doing real harm.
- At ayağı da boqlaydı suwnu dep, adamla jaşawda sınamay aytmağandıla, balam, – dedi anası."People did not say 'even a horse's foot dirties the water' without having learned it in life, my child," said his mother.
Sources
Show sources
- Къарачай-малкъар тилни фразеология ангылатма сёзлюгю (2017), p. 55