Jingjok
Thai phrases › Idioms 2 and four-syllable expressions
How to say wasted effort, pearls before swine
in Thai
สีซอให้ควายฟัง
sǐi saaw hâi kwaai fang
wasted effort, pearls before swine
sǐi risingsaaw midhâi fallingkwaai midfang mid
Explaining something to someone who can't or won't get it.
- Part of speech
- phrase
- Literally
- play the fiddle for a buffalo
In a sentence
- อธิบายไปก็เหมือนสีซอให้ควายฟังà-tí-baai bpai gâw mǔean sǐi saaw hâi kwaai fangExplaining is like talking to a brick wall.
From the same situation: Idioms 2 and four-syllable expressions
- คำซ้อนpaired word, word doublet
- คำสัมผัสrhyming words, rhyme
- คำพังเพยsaying, adage
- โวหารrhetoric, way with words
- อุปมาsimile, analogy
- เปรียบเปรยto make a pointed comparison
- คมคายsharp, witty (of words)
- สละสลวยelegant, polished (of language)
All 98 words and phrases in “Idioms 2 and four-syllable expressions” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Jingjok teaches สีซอให้ควายฟัง with audio, the tone drawn on screen, and a check on your own voice. Recognise and use 40 more Thai idioms and the paired and four-beat expressions (คำซ้อน) that give Thai speech its rhythm, and bring them into conversation the way Thais do.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.