To flog a dead horse
Стегать мертвую лошадь (т. е. заниматься явно бесполезным делом).
Голую овцу стричь. Мертвого лечить.
Другие пословицы:
- Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl
- Each bird loves to hear himself sing
- An ass is but an ass, though laden with gold
- Give never the wolf the wether to keep
- Old birds are not caught with chaff
- To fish in troubled waters
- An ass in a lion's skin
- Fine feathers make fine birds
- The end crowns the work
- To strain at a gnat and swallow a camel
- Never offer to teach fish to swim
- If an ass (donkey) bray at you, don't bray at him
- He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet
- The evils we bring on ourselves are hardest to bear
- To cook a hare before catching him