籠かごで水みずを汲くむ

expression, godan verb (-mu)

futile effort; wasted labor

Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to scoop water with a basket', used to describe a pointless or impossible task. Often used proverbially.

• そんなことをしても籠かごで水みずを汲くむようなものだ。

  Doing that is like trying to bail out the ocean with a teaspoon.

• 彼かれの説せっ得とくは籠かごで水みずを汲くむに等ひとしい。

  Trying to persuade him is as futile as scooping water with a basket.