Bedeutung
To work hard for no result.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The Bosphorus currents are so central to Istanbul's identity that many idioms involve water and rowing. Understanding the 'Şeytan Akıntısı' helps you grasp the physical intensity of this idiom. In the Ottoman era, 'hamlacı' (rowers) were highly respected. This idiom reflects the professional knowledge that even the strongest rower cannot beat the Bosphorus without strategy. In Turkish startups, this idiom is used to describe 'pivoting'. If you are rowing against the current, it's time to change your business model. Authors like Sait Faik Abasıyanık, who wrote extensively about the sea and fishermen, often used such nautical metaphors to describe the human condition.
Use it for Empathy
When a friend is complaining about a hopeless task, saying 'Resmen akıntıya kürek çekiyorsun' shows you truly understand the scale of their frustration.
Don't sound too negative
Using this about someone's dream can sound very discouraging. Be careful with the context.
Bedeutung
To work hard for no result.
Use it for Empathy
When a friend is complaining about a hopeless task, saying 'Resmen akıntıya kürek çekiyorsun' shows you truly understand the scale of their frustration.
Don't sound too negative
Using this about someone's dream can sound very discouraging. Be careful with the context.
The Bosphorus Connection
If you are in Istanbul, mentioning the Bosphorus currents while using this idiom will make you sound like a local expert.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
Onun fikrini değiştiremezsin, boşuna ________.
The standard form 'akıntıya kürek çekiyorsun' fits perfectly to describe a futile attempt at persuasion.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'akıntıya kürek çekmek'?
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisi bu deyim için uygundur?
Opening a social media agency where there is no internet is a fundamentally futile task, fitting the idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
Ahmet: 'Bu eski radyoyu tamir etmek için 3 saattir uğraşıyorum.' Mehmet: 'Bence bırak artık, ________.'
Mehmet is advising Ahmet to stop because the effort is yielding no results.
Match the idiom with its meaning.
Deyim ve Anlam Eşleştirmesi
Akıntıya kürek çekmek means 'to strive in vain'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenOnun fikrini değiştiremezsin, boşuna ________.
The standard form 'akıntıya kürek çekiyorsun' fits perfectly to describe a futile attempt at persuasion.
Aşağıdaki durumlardan hangisi bu deyim için uygundur?
Opening a social media agency where there is no internet is a fundamentally futile task, fitting the idiom.
Ahmet: 'Bu eski radyoyu tamir etmek için 3 saattir uğraşıyorum.' Mehmet: 'Bence bırak artık, ________.'
Mehmet is advising Ahmet to stop because the effort is yielding no results.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Akıntıya kürek çekmek means 'to strive in vain'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenNot inherently, but it can be perceived as blunt or pessimistic if used to describe someone's passion project.
No, it almost always implies a waste of energy or a doomed effort.
'Akıntıya kürek çekmek' implies a struggle against a force, while 'havanda su dövmek' just implies a useless, repetitive action.
Yes, 'Akıntıya kürek çektik' (We rowed against the current) is common when reflecting on a failed project.
Yes, very frequently to describe failing strategies or market resistance.
No, it is purely secular and nautical in origin.
Yes, adding 'karşı' (against) is grammatically correct and common, though 'akıntıya' already implies the direction.
Not really, the full phrase is needed to convey the meaning.
Very common. You will hear it in news, TV shows, and daily conversations.
Only if the exercise is literally rowing against a current. Otherwise, it's figurative.
Using 'akıntıya kürek atmak' instead of 'çekmek'.
Yes, it's a sophisticated way to describe a challenge or a failed approach.
Not necessarily, but it implies they are being stubborn or lack awareness of the situation.
If you only study grammar and never speak, you might say 'Sadece gramer çalışarak akıntıya kürek çekiyorum.'
Verwandte Redewendungen
havanda su dövmek
synonymTo beat water in a mortar
boşuna yorulmak
similarTo get tired for nothing
akışına bırakmak
contrastTo let it flow
yel değirmenleriyle savaşmak
similarTo fight windmills
iğneyle kuyu kazmak
builds onTo dig a well with a needle
