水みず掛かけ論ろん

noun

endless argument; pointless dispute; futile discussion

Refers to a back-and-forth argument that never reaches a conclusion, like two people arguing over whose field to water during a drought. The literal image is of a futile dispute where neither side can win.

• その会かい議ぎは水みず掛かけ論ろんに終おわった。

  The meeting ended in a pointless argument.

• 彼かれらはどちらが先さきにやるかで水みず掛かけ論ろんを続つづけている。

  They keep arguing endlessly about who should go first.