work by fits and starts 三天打鱼，两天晒网

“三天打鱼，两天晒网”，汉语俗语，字面意思是“go fishing for three days and dry the nets for two”，比喻做事情“没有恒心，经常中断，不能长期坚持（lack perseverance）”，可以翻译为“work by fits and starts”。

例句：

他三天打鱼，两天晒网，怎么能把学习搞好？

Playing truant from time to time, how can he learn well?

安做事三天打鱼，两天晒网，缺乏努力坚持的精神。

Ann works by fits and starts and lacks continuity in endeavor.