آب در هاون کوبیدن

Persian

Etymology

Literally stands for grinding water in a mortar.

Pronunciation

 
  • (Dari, formal) IPA(key): [ʔɑːb d̪äɾ hɑː.wän kʰoː.biː.d̪än]
    • (Kabuli) IPA(key): [ʔɑːb d̪äɾ ʔɑː.wän kʰoː.biː.d̪än]
    • (Hazaragi) IPA(key): [ʔɔːb̥ d̪äɾ ʔɔː.wän kʰu.bi.d̪än]
  • (Iran, formal) IPA(key): [ʔɒːb̥ d̪æɹ hɒː.væn kʰuː.biː.d̪æn]
  • (Tajik, formal) IPA(key): [ʔɔb d̪äɾ hɔ.vän kʰɵ.bi.d̪än]

Readings
Classical reading? āb dar hāwan kōbīdan
Dari reading? āb dar hāwan kōbīdan
Iranian reading? âb dar hâvan kubidan
Tajik reading? ob dar hovan kübidan

Proverb

آب در هاوَن کوبیدن • (âb dar hâvan kubidan)

  1. to beat a dead horse: to persist to do something pointless, to make a futile attempt, or to do something in vain beyond any reason.