Look not for musk in a dog's kennel.
Proverbs on a similar topic
- No man can serve two masters.
- If wishes were horses beggars would ride.
- You cannot eat your cake and have it.
- To carry coals to Newcastle.
- He that is born a fool is never cured.
- You cannot make a silk purse of a sow's ear.
- If the young man would and the old man could, there would be nothing undone.
- You cannot flay the same ox twice.
Related proverbs
Similar proverbs in another language
Latin
- In scirpo nodum quaeris. You are looking for a knot in the rope.
- Mulgere hircum. Milking a goat.
French
- Faire de la bouillie pour les chats. Making porridge for cats.
- Ce qui ne fut jamais ni ne sera, c'est le nid d'une souris dans l'oreille d'un chat. What never was or will be is a mouse's nest in a cat's ear.
- C'est prêcher dans le désert. It's like preaching in the desert.
- Demander de la laine à un âne. Ask a donkey for wool.
- Ce sont balles perdues. These are lost bullets.
German
- Vom Esel kann man nicht Wolle fordern. You cannot demand wool from the donkey.
Czech
- Kaž vlku orati, sytému sedláku se postiti. Every wolf shall plough, and every farmer shall fast.
- Chtít od jalové krávy tele. Asking a calf from a lame cow.
- Nehledej fíky na trní. Don't look for figs on thorns.
- Chtít od býka mléko. Asking the bull for milk.