what is the meaning

[balakrishnanijk]

What is the meaning of the phrase a "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle"? Where does it come from? Why do we use the indefinite article before "man" and "woman" in this sentence?

[Anglika]

It is in fact "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle".

It's an aphorism so "a" indicates unspecificity.

Have you ever seen a fish on a bicycle? It is the last thing it needs. So the aphorism implies women can exist quite well without men.

The alteration in the saying makes it meaningless.