This proverb means that one should not engage in a worthless or futile task. It’s important to ensure that our effort and work bring about meaningful outcomes. In Malagasy culture, a ‘slacker’ character is often depicted as comedic and ineffective, reflecting the idea of wasted effort. An equivalent English proverb could be ‘Don’t waste your time on a wild goose chase,’ which also conveys the message of avoiding efforts on pointless tasks.