All the effort we put in has come…

Explore Arabic traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-22

Meaning: Verified

English translation: All the effort we put in has come to nothing.
Literal wording: What we piped has gone to God.

Meaning and lesson: The saying expresses the view that effort already expended has been wasted. It frames the work as having yielded nothing, with the result that the labor is regarded as having gone for nothing.
It is a compact way to sum up a futile outcome from the standpoint of those who made the effort. The emphasis falls on the loss of the exertion itself rather than on describing the particular circumstances involved.
When it is used: Use it when characterizing an effort as wasted or futile. It conveys the judgment that the work done has brought no worthwhile result.

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PROVERB (ARABIC)
«اِللِّي زَمَّرْنَاهْ رَاحْ لِلهْ»
Literal translation: What we piped has gone to God.
Natural translation: All the effort we put in has come to nothing.
Meaning: The saying expresses the view that effort already expended has been wasted. It frames the work as having yielded nothing, with the result that the labor is regarded as having gone for nothing.

It is a compact way to sum up a futile outcome from the standpoint of those who made the effort. The emphasis falls on the loss of the exertion itself rather than on describing the particular circumstances involved.
Used when: Use it when characterizing an effort as wasted or futile. It conveys the judgment that the work done has brought no worthwhile result.

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Review state: Verified
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22
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