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Echar agua al mar

To carry coals to Newcastle / To do something pointless

Idioms & Sayings
Notes & Usage:

Literally 'to pour water into the sea'. Describes a useless or redundant action — doing something that adds nothing because it's already abundant.

See It in Context

Intentar convencerle es echar agua al mar, nunca cambia de opinión.

Trying to convince him is pointless, he never changes his mind.

—¿Le explico otra vez cómo funciona? —Es echar agua al mar, no escucha.

—Should I explain again how it works? —It's pointless, he doesn't listen.

Llevar paraguas a Irlanda es como echar agua al mar.

Taking an umbrella to Ireland is like carrying coals to Newcastle.

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