you can't get a quart into a pint pot
The proverb "you can't get a quart into a pint pot" highlights the futility of trying to fit something too large into a space that is too small, often used to illustrate the concept of limitations.
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Definition
B2General
(figurative, idiomatic)It is impossible to fit something too large into a space that is too small.
Example
- Trying to fit all the furniture into that tiny room is like saying you can't get a quart into a pint pot.
B2General
(figurative, idiomatic)You cannot achieve the impossible by attempting to do something that exceeds the available resources or limits.
Example
- Expecting him to finish all that work in one day is unrealistic; you can't get a quart into a pint pot.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "you can't get a quart into a pint pot":