когда свинью смолят, ей не до поросят

посл.

lit. when a pig is being smoked, it doesn't think about its piglets; cf. I'm in no laughing mood; I've got other things on my mind right now

- Э-э-э, шутки шутить изволите, а мне вот не до них. В моей деревне на этот счёт говорили: "Когда свинью смолят, ей не до поросят". (В. Ерёменко, Слепой дождь) — 'Oh, you can have your little joke, but I'm not in any mood for joking. In the village where I come from they used to say: 'When a pig is being smoked, it doesn't think about its piglets.''