Pour not water on a drowned mouse.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Do not add burdens to someone already overwhelmed. Pouring more water onto a drowned mouse gives a stark image of effort that cannot help and may only worsen an already hopeless situation.

What the words are saying

The mouse has already suffered from too much water, so another pouring cannot serve as a useful response. The proverb can question criticism, pressure or repeated demands directed at someone who is already struggling. It asks whether an intervention offers any practical benefit or merely adds to the burden. The severe image should not be used to decide that a living person or difficult project is beyond help. A useful application changes the kind of response rather than abandoning care: reduce an unnecessary demand, clarify priorities or offer assistance that addresses the actual need. More of the same is not always support.

Everyday example

A supervisor reduces nonessential requests when a colleague is already occupied with an urgent backlog.

When to use it

Use it to question demands that worsen an existing burden.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.