εἰς τὸν τετρημένον πίθον ἀντλεῖν → run water into a punctured pitcher, to the perforated jar bale water, labour in vain, labor in vain
adj.
P. and V. ποικίλος, πανοῦργος, δεινός, πυκνός (Plat.), V. μηχανόρραφος, Ar. and V. αἱμύλος (also once in Plat.).
