As an American I can tell you that it’s better to just beat that dead dog. Well, horse really. Elephant. It’s definitely an elephant. Now get out your flail and go to town at that bitch. And continue the beatings until the problem is resolved.
I don’t speak the language, but my guess is that the Portuguese equivalent of “beating a dead horse” uses a dog instead?
in pt-br: chutando cachorro morto
literal translation: beating a dead dog
in pt-pt: bater no ceguinho
literal translation: beating the little blind person
Yup you guessed it right.
Isn’t “cachorro” actually “puppy” (as in, specifically young dogs)?
So “beating a dead puppy”?
(My native language is Spanish, but maybe it has another meaning in Portuguese; too lazy to search the interwebz)
AFAIK it is a puppy if you’re in Continental Portugal, and an adult dog if you’re in Madeira or Brazil.
Ah, I see. Thanks. (Sorry for the late reply, and to OP for reviving a months old post)
No worries at all! We Portuguese have a saying: better late than never.
Abraço