虻あぶ蜂はち取とらず

expression

trying to do two things at once and failing at both; falling between two stools

Proverb warning against splitting one's attention and ending up with nothing. Literally 'catching neither the horsefly nor the bee'.

• 二ふたつの仕し事ごとを同どう時じにやろうとして、虻あぶ蜂はち取とらずになった。

  I tried to do two jobs at the same time and ended up failing at both.

• あれもこれも手てを出だすと、虻あぶ蜂はち取とらずに終おわるよ。

  If you try to do too many things, you'll end up with nothing.