Holz in den Wald tragen

German

Etymology

Literally, to carry wood into the forest.

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Verb

Holz in den Wald tragen (class 6 strong, third-person singular present trägt Holz in den Wald, past tense trug Holz in den Wald, past participle Holz in den Wald getragen, past subjunctive trüge Holz in den Wald, auxiliary haben)

  1. to carry coals to Newcastle; to bring owls to Athens (do something redundant and pointless)
    Synonyms: Eulen nach Athen tragen, Wasser ins Meer tragen

Conjugation