Brueghel proverbs, episode 1: Boter aan de galg smeren ====================================================== EN: Today's Brueghel proverb. NL: Boter aan de galg smeren. NL: Boter aan de galg smeren. EN: Literally: to smear butter on the gallows. Meaning: wasted effort, doing something pointless. Example: NL: Hem proberen te overtuigen is boter aan de galg smeren. EN: Trying to convince him is wasted effort. NL: Doei doei!