شال الميه بالغربال Shal el mayya bel ghorbal Translation: He carried water in a sieve. Meaning: This is one of the sayings that precede the machine age, most of which have to do with using the wrong tool for a job. Water cannot be carried in a sieve, but some people still try. Source: Egyptian Proverbs, (Al-Ahram Center for Translation and Publishing, 1986) by Ahmed Taymour Pasha, Translated by: Nabil Shawkat http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/131656.aspx