It is useless to whip the cat when the company has no money.
whip the cat
idiomTo attempt to get work or money from someone who is too weak or poor to provide it.
Origin
disputed originOriginally from reference to a prank played on country bumpkins, in which they were encouraged to show their strength by whipping a cat that was harnessed to a load that was too heavy for it. This led to the sense of attempting to get more than can be provided, and by extension, to practice extreme parsimony. From there, it possibly evolved to the other senses, which tend to reflect the connotations of poverty and/or uselessness.
The manager keeps demanding more sales from the struggling team, but he is just whipping the cat.
By pressuring the impoverished villagers for further taxes, the local official was merely whipping the cat, as they had nothing left to give.
- 01
bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
- 02
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
- 03
cat got someone's tongue
Why is someone not saying anything?
- 04
cat in the meal-tub
Something concealed; a hidden danger.
- 05
cat piss
Any beverage of low quality.
- 06
cat that ate the canary
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
- 07
cool cat
A person who performs or appreciates jazz, especially one whose style of speech and movement is relaxed and rhythmic.
- 08
dead cat bounce
A temporary recovery in the price of a financial instrument which has fallen rapidly and is expected to fall further in the long run.