Here's a breakdown:
* Fine words: This refers to flattering or encouraging speech, but without any substance or action behind it.
* Butter: Butter is used to make food more palatable and appealing, but it doesn't actually nourish or sustain.
* Parsnips: Parsnips are a root vegetable that need to be cooked or prepared to be edible.
Essentially, the proverb is saying that empty words or promises are useless without real effort or action.
Example:
A friend might say, "I'm so sorry you're struggling. I'm here for you if you need anything." While their words are kind, they don't actually do anything to solve the problem. This situation would be an example of "fine words buttering no parsnips" because the friend's words are empty without any concrete action.