English Explanatory Dictionary

bring owls to Athens

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To undertake a pointless venture, one that is redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical.

Pronunciation

/bɹɪŋ ˈaʊlz tu ˈæ.θɪnz/ en-us-bring owls to Athens.ogg en-au-bring owls to Athens.ogg

Word forms

bring owls to Athens brings owls to Athens bringing owls to Athens brought owls to Athens carry owls to Athens

Etymology

Calque from Ancient Greek proverb γλαῦκ’ εἰς Ἀθήνας (glaûk’ eis Athḗnas). The owl, which roosted in the rafters of the old Parthenon (the one burnt by Xerxes I), was the symbol of the city of Athens, and was sacred to its patron goddess, Athena. It was featured on Athens’ silver coins, and as Athens both mined its own silver and minted its own coins, bringing owls (either the real birds, or the coins) to Athens would be pointless.

Synonyms

carry coals to Newcastle
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