Sometimes, people try hard to do something, but it doesn’t work. No matter what they do, the result stays the same. This is called futility. It means the effort is wasted or has no real effect. In English, we use idioms to talk about these moments. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They have a special meaning.
This article will teach you some common idioms that show when something feels pointless. These idioms can help you describe times when actions don’t lead to change. You’ll see clear meanings and short examples for each one. There will also be questions to help you remember what you learn.
Idioms for Futility
1. A wild goose chase
Meaning: Trying to do something that has no chance of success.
Sample Sentences: He went on a wild goose chase looking for his lost phone in the park. / Trying to fix that old car without help is a wild goose chase.
Other Way to Say: A useless search / A pointless hunt
2. Beat a dead horse
Meaning: Keep trying to do something that won’t work.
Sample Sentences: Talking about the mistake again is like beating a dead horse. / She kept asking for the same favor, but it was beating a dead horse.
Other Way to Say: Waste your time / Keep trying without success
3. Pour water into a sieve
Meaning: Doing something that has no result or effect.
Sample Sentences: Trying to stop him is like pouring water into a sieve. / Teaching him to clean up is like pouring water into a sieve.
Other Way to Say: Wasting effort / Doing something useless
4. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Trying the wrong way to solve a problem.
Sample Sentences: If you think I took your book, you’re barking up the wrong tree. / He’s barking up the wrong tree by blaming his friends.
Other Way to Say: Wrong guess / Mistaken idea
5. Running in circles
Meaning: Doing a lot but making no progress.
Sample Sentences: We’ve been running in circles trying to fix this computer. / Studying without a plan is running in circles.
Other Way to Say: No progress / Going nowhere
6. Chasing your tail
Meaning: Trying hard but not getting anywhere.
Sample Sentences: He was chasing his tail trying to finish all his homework. / Cleaning the messy room felt like chasing my tail.
Other Way to Say: Spinning your wheels / Busy but stuck
7. Spinning your wheels
Meaning: Making effort but not moving forward.
Sample Sentences: She is spinning her wheels with that broken bike. / I’m spinning my wheels trying to solve this puzzle.
Other Way to Say: Wasting effort / No progress
8. Going down a dead end
Meaning: Trying something that leads nowhere.
Sample Sentences: Looking for the lost keys in the basement was going down a dead end. / The plan is going down a dead end if we don’t change it.
Other Way to Say: No way forward / Reaching a stop
9. Throwing good money after bad
Meaning: Keep spending time or money on something that won’t work.
Sample Sentences: Buying that old car is like throwing good money after bad. / Fixing the broken toy again feels like throwing good money after bad.
Other Way to Say: Waste more resources / Keep losing
10. Dead in the water
Meaning: No chance of success.
Sample Sentences: The project was dead in the water after the funding stopped. / Our team was dead in the water without enough players.
Other Way to Say: No hope / Stuck without progress
11. Going nowhere fast
Meaning: Moving but not improving or succeeding.
Sample Sentences: Trying to finish the test without reading is going nowhere fast. / The argument was going nowhere fast because no one listened.
Other Way to Say: No improvement / No success
12. A fool’s errand
Meaning: A task that has no chance of success.
Sample Sentences: Finding a unicorn is a fool’s errand. / Searching the ocean floor for treasure without a map is a fool’s errand.
Other Way to Say: A useless job / A hopeless task
13. Building castles in the air
Meaning: Making plans that are impossible.
Sample Sentences: He’s building castles in the air about becoming a superhero. / Planning to fly without wings is building castles in the air.
Other Way to Say: Dreaming without reason / Imagining the impossible
14. Going against the tide
Meaning: Trying to do something that is very hard or useless because everyone else is doing the opposite.
Sample Sentences: Trying to change the rules alone is like going against the tide. / She’s going against the tide by standing up for a lost cause.
Other Way to Say: Fighting a losing battle / Trying the hard way
15. Pushing a boulder uphill
Meaning: Trying to do something very hard with little success.
Sample Sentences: Getting him to clean up is like pushing a boulder uphill. / It’s like pushing a boulder uphill to finish this big project alone.
Other Way to Say: Hard and slow work / Very difficult task
16. Fishing in an empty pond
Meaning: Trying to find something where there is nothing to find.
Sample Sentences: Looking for candy in the empty jar is like fishing in an empty pond. / Trying to find answers in that place is fishing in an empty pond.
Other Way to Say: Searching with no results / Looking where nothing is
17. Carrying water in a sieve
Meaning: Trying to hold or keep something that will not stay.
Sample Sentences: Helping him save money is like carrying water in a sieve. / Trying to keep the cookies fresh is like carrying water in a sieve.
Other Way to Say: Wasting effort / Holding onto nothing
18. Beating the air
Meaning: Trying hard but with no effect.
Sample Sentences: Arguing with him was like beating the air. / She felt like she was beating the air trying to explain.
Other Way to Say: Talking for no reason / Wasting energy
19. Sailing against the wind
Meaning: Trying to do something when conditions make it very hard or impossible.
Sample Sentences: Trying to finish the race with a flat tire is sailing against the wind. / Working on that plan now feels like sailing against the wind.
Other Way to Say: Fighting hard / Working with difficulty
20. Carrying coals to Newcastle
Meaning: Doing something unnecessary because the place already has plenty.
Sample Sentences: Bringing extra snacks to the party was carrying coals to Newcastle. / Giving her more pencils is like carrying coals to Newcastle; she already has many.
Other Way to Say: Unneeded effort / Doing what’s not required
21. Water off a duck’s back
Meaning: When something bad happens but it does not affect you.
Sample Sentences: His teacher’s angry words were like water off a duck’s back. / The teasing didn’t bother her; it was water off a duck’s back.
Other Way to Say: Doesn’t bother / Goes away easily
22. Casting pearls before swine
Meaning: Giving something valuable to someone who won’t appreciate it.
Sample Sentences: Trying to explain to him is like casting pearls before swine. / Sharing your ideas with them is casting pearls before swine.
Other Way to Say: Wasting good things / Giving to the wrong person
23. Running on empty
Meaning: Trying to do something when you have no energy or resources left.
Sample Sentences: After staying up all night, I was running on empty during the game. / She was running on empty but kept working.
Other Way to Say: Very tired / Out of fuel
24. Like trying to catch the wind
Meaning: Trying to do something impossible.
Sample Sentences: Fixing the broken computer without parts is like trying to catch the wind. / Convincing him to change is like trying to catch the wind.
Other Way to Say: Impossible task / Trying something you can’t do
25. Throwing stones at the sky
Meaning: Trying to do something useless or pointless.
Sample Sentences: Complaining to the wind is like throwing stones at the sky. / He was throwing stones at the sky by arguing with no proof.
Other Way to Say: Pointless effort / Doing something useless
26. Blowing in the wind
Meaning: Something that changes and has no lasting effect.
Sample Sentences: Their promises were just blowing in the wind. / Plans without action are like blowing in the wind.
Other Way to Say: Unstable / Not lasting
27. Carrying water uphill
Meaning: Doing hard work that does not help or change anything.
Sample Sentences: Trying to get him to listen is like carrying water uphill. / Studying without focus is carrying water uphill.
Other Way to Say: Hard and useless work / Wasting effort
28. Like a hamster on a wheel
Meaning: Doing the same thing over and over without progress.
Sample Sentences: She felt like a hamster on a wheel, always busy but not moving forward. / Cleaning the room again felt like a hamster on a wheel.
Other Way to Say: No progress / Stuck doing the same thing
29. Chasing shadows
Meaning: Trying to find or catch something that isn’t real or does not exist.
Sample Sentences: Looking for a solution that’s not there is chasing shadows. / He’s chasing shadows if he thinks that will fix the problem.
Other Way to Say: Looking for nothing / Searching for a ghost
30. Fishing in troubled waters
Meaning: Trying to gain or find something in a difficult or hopeless situation.
Sample Sentences: Trying to get help now is like fishing in troubled waters. / She was fishing in troubled waters by asking for money after the loss.
Other Way to Say: Trying in a hard situation / Hoping in bad times
31. Pouring water on a drowned rat
Meaning: Doing something useless to help someone already lost or in trouble.
Sample Sentences: Helping him now is like pouring water on a drowned rat. / Trying to fix the broken toy after it’s smashed is pouring water on a drowned rat.
Other Way to Say: Too late help / Useless effort
32. Like a dog chasing its tail
Meaning: Doing something over and over with no result.
Sample Sentences: Trying to finish the project without a plan is like a dog chasing its tail. / She’s like a dog chasing its tail trying to clean the messy desk.
Other Way to Say: Busy but stuck / Going in circles
33. Pushing against a brick wall
Meaning: Trying to make something happen but facing strong resistance.
Sample Sentences: Convincing him is like pushing against a brick wall. / Getting the team to cooperate felt like pushing against a brick wall.
Other Way to Say: Fighting a strong problem / Hard and no progress
34. Like squeezing blood from a stone
Meaning: Trying to get something impossible or very hard to get.
Sample Sentences: Getting money from him is like squeezing blood from a stone. / Asking for more work done without pay is like squeezing blood from a stone.
Other Way to Say: Impossible to get / Very hard to do
35. Putting a square peg in a round hole
Meaning: Trying to make something fit where it doesn’t belong.
Sample Sentences: Forcing him to do that job is like putting a square peg in a round hole. / That plan is like putting a square peg in a round hole.
Other Way to Say: Doesn’t fit / Wrong place
36. Chasing rainbows
Meaning: Trying to get something that is very unlikely or impossible.
Sample Sentences: He’s chasing rainbows if he thinks he’ll win the lottery. / Trying to get perfect grades without studying is chasing rainbows.
Other Way to Say: Hoping for the impossible / Dreaming without facts
37. Climbing a slippery slope
Meaning: Trying to do something difficult that gets harder as you go.
Sample Sentences: Fixing the broken fence is like climbing a slippery slope. / Getting out of trouble now feels like climbing a slippery slope.
Other Way to Say: Hard and getting worse / Difficult and risky
38. Blowing bubbles
Meaning: Doing something that is pretty but has no real effect.
Sample Sentences: Their ideas were like blowing bubbles—fun but not useful. / Making empty promises is like blowing bubbles.
Other Way to Say: Pretty but useless / No real effect
39. Trying to catch lightning in a bottle
Meaning: Trying to do something very hard to achieve or capture.
Sample Sentences: Winning the big game without practice is like catching lightning in a bottle. / Getting a perfect score on a hard test is like catching lightning in a bottle.
Other Way to Say: Very hard to do / Almost impossible
40. Pouring oil on water
Meaning: Doing something that won’t mix or work together.
Sample Sentences: Trying to calm the fight with more shouting is pouring oil on water. / Their plan was like pouring oil on water and didn’t solve anything.
Other Way to Say: Not working together / Making things worse
41. Carrying the weight of the world
Meaning: Trying to do too much, often with no success.
Sample Sentences: She felt like she was carrying the weight of the world with her homework. / Trying to fix everyone’s problems is like carrying the weight of the world.
Other Way to Say: Too much to handle / Overloaded
42. A castle built on sand
Meaning: A plan or idea that is weak and will fail.
Sample Sentences: Their new game was a castle built on sand and broke quickly. / Building a team without practice is a castle built on sand.
Other Way to Say: Weak plan / Unstable idea
43. Running on a treadmill
Meaning: Working hard but not getting anywhere.
Sample Sentences: He was running on a treadmill trying to finish his chores. / Studying without understanding is running on a treadmill.
Other Way to Say: No progress / Busy but stuck
44. Trying to catch smoke
Meaning: Trying to get something that cannot be held or caught.
Sample Sentences: Getting him to tell the truth is like trying to catch smoke. / Holding onto secrets is like trying to catch smoke.
Other Way to Say: Impossible to catch / Chasing the invisible
45. Chasing one’s own shadow
Meaning: Doing things that don’t help or make sense.
Sample Sentences: He’s chasing his own shadow by worrying too much. / Cleaning when the house is messy again is chasing one’s own shadow.
Other Way to Say: Doing pointless things / Following yourself
46. Like trying to hold the wind
Meaning: Trying to keep something that cannot be held.
Sample Sentences: Holding onto that secret is like trying to hold the wind. / Saving every moment perfectly is like trying to hold the wind.
Other Way to Say: Impossible to keep / Trying the impossible
47. Painting the air
Meaning: Doing something that looks like effort but has no effect.
Sample Sentences: His promises are like painting the air. / Explaining without action is painting the air.
Other Way to Say: Empty effort / No results
48. Building on quicksand
Meaning: Making plans on something unstable that will fail.
Sample Sentences: Their friendship was like building on quicksand and fell apart. / The team was building on quicksand without trust.
Other Way to Say: Unstable foundation / Will fail soon
49. Chasing bubbles
Meaning: Going after something pretty but useless.
Sample Sentences: Dreaming about winning without trying is chasing bubbles. / His ideas were like chasing bubbles, fun but no results.
Other Way to Say: Pointless pursuit / Going after nothing
50. Like a sandcastle at high tide
Meaning: Something that will be destroyed quickly.
Sample Sentences: Their plans were like a sandcastle at high tide and didn’t last long. / Building a secret on lies is like a sandcastle at high tide.
Other Way to Say: Temporary / Easily destroyed
51. Digging a hole you can’t climb out of
Meaning: Making a problem worse by your own actions.
Sample Sentences: He was digging a hole he couldn’t climb out of by lying more. / Skipping homework is digging a hole you can’t climb out of.
Other Way to Say: Making things worse / Creating big problems
52. Filling a bucket with a hole
Meaning: Trying to save or keep something but it’s lost through a leak.
Sample Sentences: Saving money without a plan is like filling a bucket with a hole. / Trying to fix a leaky roof is like filling a bucket with a hole.
Other Way to Say: Losing what you try to save / Waste effort
53. Playing a losing game
Meaning: Doing something where you cannot win.
Sample Sentences: Trying to beat the best player was like playing a losing game. / Arguing without facts is playing a losing game.
Other Way to Say: No chance to win / Losing from the start
54. Filling the ocean with a teaspoon
Meaning: Trying to do a big job with too little effort.
Sample Sentences: Cleaning the whole park alone is like filling the ocean with a teaspoon. / Trying to solve big problems alone is filling the ocean with a teaspoon.
Other Way to Say: Too small effort / Not enough to make a difference
55. Like a leaky faucet
Meaning: Trying to save or keep something but it keeps slipping away.
Sample Sentences: His money was like a leaky faucet, always running out. / Her patience was like a leaky faucet and soon finished.
Other Way to Say: Losing slowly / Can’t hold on
Multiple Choice Quiz: Idioms for Futility
1. What does “beating a dead horse” mean?
A) Riding a horse that’s tired
B) Talking about something that’s already over
C) Trying to train an animal
2. If you are “spinning your wheels,” what are you doing?
A) Riding your bike fast
B) Making progress quickly
C) Working hard but not moving forward
3. “Like talking to a brick wall” means what?
A) Talking to someone who doesn’t listen
B) Building a wall with bricks
C) Practicing a speech
4. What does “a wild goose chase” describe?
A) A fun walk in the park
B) A search that leads nowhere
C) A race with birds
5. If someone says, “you’re chasing your tail,” what do they mean?
A) You are running in circles without getting anywhere
B) You’re chasing your dog
C) You are spinning for fun
6. What does “throwing money down the drain” mean?
A) Saving money for later
B) Wasting money on something useless
C) Giving money to a friend
7. What does “like herding cats” mean?
A) Helping cats cross the road
B) Doing something that’s very hard to control
C) Feeding animals at the zoo
8. “Trying to hold the wind” means what?
A) Catching something that’s too fast
B) Trying to do something you can’t control
C) Blowing air into a balloon
9. If you are “writing in the sand,” what are you doing?
A) Writing something that fades quickly
B) Practicing handwriting
C) Making art
10. What does “watering fake flowers” mean?
A) Taking care of plants
B) Helping something that doesn’t need help
C) Playing with water
11. “Fighting a losing battle” means what?
A) Playing a game and having fun
B) Trying something you probably can’t win
C) Cheering for a friend
12. If someone is “going in circles,” what are they doing?
A) Running laps on the track
B) Thinking about circles in math
C) Repeating the same thing without solving the problem
Answer Key
- B) Talking about something that’s already over
- C) Working hard but not moving forward
- A) Talking to someone who doesn’t listen
- B) A search that leads nowhere
- A) You are running in circles without getting anywhere
- B) Wasting money on something useless
- B) Doing something that’s very hard to control
- B) Trying to do something you can’t control
- A) Writing something that fades quickly
- B) Helping something that doesn’t need help
- B) Trying something you probably can’t win
- C) Repeating the same thing without solving the problem
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master! You truly understand idioms about futility.
- 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding futility idioms. Keep it up!
- 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there! Review the idioms again.
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore idioms about futility together. Go back and read the examples again to learn more.
Conclusion
Understanding idioms about futility helps us talk about times when things don’t go as planned. These sayings give us a simple way to describe actions that don’t lead to success. They also help us notice when we need to change what we’re doing.
By learning these idioms, you can better explain how you feel and understand others, too. Keep practicing them in your reading, writing, and daily conversations. It’s a good way to grow your thinking and language skills.
