Browse Tsumo
Shona Definition
Kunenge kuri kungopedza nguva kana munhu achiita chisingamubatsiri. Munhu kana akatorerwa mukadzi wake hungava hupenzi kuti agosara achitarisira kuti zvimwe achadzokera kwaari.
English Translation
Cutting a fence for a snake is nothing but idle play with an axe. To throw yourself into something that can bring you no benefit is folly.
Cultural Context
“Said of someone pursuing a hopeless cause, such as a man whose wife has been taken from him still waiting for her to come back.”
Entries are reviewed by language experts. Thank you for your contribution to Shona literature.
This is a variant of
Kuvaraidza zuva / kuteya nzou nerivaTrapping an elephant with a stone trap is merely a way of passing the day — effort so mismatched to the task that it achieves nothing.