ほとけつくってたましいいれず

仏作って魂入れず

表記・読み：仏造って魂入れず・ほとけつくってたましいいれず

1. 1

   so near, yet so far; ploughing the field and forgetting the seed; making a Buddha statue but not putting a soul in it

   expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)idiomatic expression