虻蜂とらず

Illustration representing the proverb 虻蜂とらず

虻蜂とらず

(あぶはちとらず)

Japanese meaning

二つを同時に手に入れようとすると、両方とも手に入らない。

English meaning

Trying to catch two things at once and getting neither.

Literal English translation

Catch neither the horsefly nor the bee.