have waited too often and futilely in the past for porcupines to unroll

●Idioms, etc.

have waited too often and futilely in the past for porcupines to unroll: 前にも時々、ヤマアラシが体を伸ばすのを待っていてばかをみたことがある ロンドン著 白石佑光訳 『白い牙』(White Fang ) p. 70