Russian Idioms and Fixed Phrases for Foreigners “Martyshkin trud”

Hello, dear friends! Are you ready to look into another popular fixed expression that is not always understandable even to many Russians, to say nothing of foreigners? Here is a phrase “martyshkin trud” (literally “monkey job”). Why is the job done by a monkey rather than by an elephant? And what is she doing?

So. Meaning

We use the fixed phrase “martyshkin trud” when we want to say that the job is done for its own sake rather than for achieving results and nobody needs it. The person makes great efforts, but these efforts turn out to be useless and pointless.

Origin

There is no particular disagreement about the origin of this expression. The character of a monkey, who was grasping a big woodblock very carefully and rolling it back and forth, ran off her legs but waited for praise in vain as her efforts were totally useless, was created by Ivan Krylov in his fable titled The Monkey (1811). Why was the monkey doing all that? She envied a hard-working ploughman, who had plowed up the whole field, and wanted to be praised in the same way. And how did it all end? – “You work hard, but your efforts are in vain.”

Use

“Martyshkin trud” is a problem many people have to face. The expression “martyshkin trud” reminds us of how important it is to take a sensible approach to any activity — study or work. It is important that we not only work a lot but also do this using common sense.

Synonyms

• useless job
• hopeless undertaking
• labor in vain
• lost labor
• fruitless labor
• fruitless efforts
• aimless activities
• fool’s errand