portare nottole ad Atene

Italian

Alternative forms

• portare civette ad Atene (literally “carry owls to Athens”)

Etymology

Literally “carry noctules/owls to Athens”, calque from Ancient Greek proverb γλαῦκ' εἰς Ἀθήνας (glaûk' eis Athḗnas). Compare English bring owls to Athens.

Verb

portare nottole ad Atene

1. (idiomatic) To bring owls to Athens, to carry coals to Newcastle; to undertake a pointless, redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical venture.

   Synonym: portare vasi a Samo (literally “carry jars to Samos”)