בּוֹר סוּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְאַבֵּד טִפָּה, בּוֹר סִיד שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְאַבֵּד טִפָּה

ביטוי (אנגלית)

a plastered cistern which loses not a drop (retentive memory)

הגדרה (אנגלית)

By extension: a term for someone with an extraordinary memory who forgets nothing of what he learns (originally: in the past, it was customary to dig a pit in the ground and plaster it with lime for use).

("He would enumerate their praise: Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus—a plastered cistern which loses not a drop. Rabbi Joshua—happy is she who bore him. Rabbi Yose—a pious man. Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel—one who fears sin"—Avot 2:8. Also: "Ben Porat Yosef, he amazes me with the power of his memory and depth of his intellect... for he is like a plastered cistern which loses not a drop"—Y. Burla, Longings, 64. Also: "Unique in his generation! Genius of geniuses!...a plastered cistern which loses not a drop"—H. Hazaz, First Generations, 105.)