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дiряву майстрину не наповниш

English translation: one can't fill a leaky bucket

23:04 Dec 30, 2009
Ukrainian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / proverb
Ukrainian term or phrase: дiряву майстрину не наповниш
proverb
John Farebrother
United Kingdom
English translation:one can't fill a leaky bucket
Explanation:
the word means a lot of things - a vessel of some sort, a pan, a pot, but the meaning is the same.

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Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2010-01-03 18:50:11 GMT) Post-grading
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You are welcome.
Selected response from:

Angela Greenfield
United States
Local time: 20:51
Grading comment
thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5one can't fill a leaky bucket
Angela Greenfield
2 +1one can't bail out a leaky boat
Alla_K


  

Answers


12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
one can't bail out a leaky boat


Explanation:
just another expression for a Sisyphenian task

Alla_K
Local time: 20:51
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk: 1). "Sisyphean task" or "Sisyphean challenge" - NOT "Sisyphenian task" (above). 2) I don't think any mention of Sisyphus is OK here. That guy was PUNISHED by the gods for his trickery - to roll a huge rock up a steep hill, only to watch it roll back down!
1 hr
  -> Cизифов труд (устойчивое сочетание) О трудной, бесконечной, бесплодной работе. - lingvo dictionary. Of or relating to an endless and ineffective task.not necessary punishment in contemporary meaning. http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-sis1.htm
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
one can't fill a leaky bucket


Explanation:
the word means a lot of things - a vessel of some sort, a pan, a pot, but the meaning is the same.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days19 hrs (2010-01-03 18:50:11 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

You are welcome.

Angela Greenfield
United States
Local time: 20:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natalie
13 mins
  -> Many thanks, Natalie, and Happy New Year.
agree  AndriyRubashnyy
11 hrs
  -> Thank you, rubiko.
agree  Alla_K
12 hrs
  -> Thank you, Alla.
agree  Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk
13 hrs
  -> Thank you, Alexander.
agree  Tatyana Kovalenko
2 days 9 hrs
  -> Thank you, Tatyana.
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