General
you can't get blood from a turnip
What does you can't get blood from a turnip mean?
A proverb meaning you cannot get money or resources from someone who has none.
"Suing him is pointless—you can't get blood from a turnip."
Origin
Old proverb (also "from a stone"); common in Southern usage about the impossibility of getting something from nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What does "you can't get blood from a turnip" mean?
It means you can't extract money or resources from someone who simply has none.
When is it used?
It's used to argue that pressing someone for what they don't have is futile.
Is there another version?
Yes, "you can't get blood from a stone" is a common variant with the same meaning.
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