fish (up)for the moon in the water — make impractical (/vain) effort;futile fantasy; plough the air (/sands); a vain(/futile/fruitless)attempt ❍ 这就是～。(《儒林外史》576)You want me to pluck the moon from the lake—it simply can’ t be done. ❍ 祖师道： “此欲长生，亦如～。”(《西游记》 18) “To obtain immortality from such activities，” said the Patriarch，“is also like scooping the moon from the water. ”
水中捞月shui zhong lao yue
fish for the moon in the water—cry for the moon
水中捞月
fish for the moon in the water—cry for the moon;make impractical or vain efforts
水中捞月shuǐ zhōnɡ lāo yuè
比喻白费工夫，目的根本就无法实现。make impractical or rain efforts, fish in the air