Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.

Absurd

He calls for a shoeing horn to help on his gloves.

He catches the wind with a net.

He chastises the dead.

He cleaves the clouds.

He draws water with a sieve.Modern Greek.

He gives grass to the lion—meat to the horse.Turkish.

He gives straw to his dog—and bones to his ass.

He hides the sun with a sieve.Modern Greek.

He is building a bridge over the sea.

He is making clothes for fishes.

He is making ropes of sand.

He numbers the waves.

He ploughs the air.

He pounds water in a mortar.

He seeks water in the sea.

He seeks wool on an ass.

He sees a glow-worm and thinks it a conflagration.Turkish.

He takes a spear to kill a fly.

He takes oil to extinguish the fire.

He tries to support an egg upon his nose.Modern Greek.

To commit as many absurdities as a clown in eating an egg.

To dig a well to put out a house on fire.Tamil.

To dig a well with a needle.Turkish.

To drink from a colander.Latin.

To swim a river with a bridge close by.

To the dog straw and to the ass bones.Modern Greek.

To throw oil on the fire.Dutch.

To throw pearls before swine.

To twist a rope of sand.

You ask an elm tree for pears.

You dance in a net and think nobody sees you.

You go to a goat to buy wool.

You look for hot water under the ice.

You use a lantern at noon day.Latin.