beat one's head against the wall
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Also, bang or run one's head against or into a brick wall. Waste one's time in a hopeless enterprise, as in I have tried many times to convince him to stop smoking, but I'm beating my head against a brick wall. The metaphoric phrase alludes to a physical expression of frustration. [Late 1500s] Also see beat the air.
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Words nearby beat one's head against the wall
beatnik, beatniks, beat off, Beaton, beat one's brains out, beat one's head against the wall, beat out, beat poets, Beatrice, Beatrix, beats me
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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