This saying originates from the Anosy region, where Lake Anosy is infamous for its pollution, which deters people from consuming its fish. Therefore, the proverb is used to describe situations where one can only be a spectator and not a participant. Essentially, it means observing a situation without being able to intervene. An equivalent English proverb would be ‘Watching the world go by,’ which signifies seeing opportunities or events pass by without participating in them.