fool's errand
Americannoun
noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instead of being a fool’s errand, there is now a road map for disruption.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
There is a lot that is different about the mega-IPO, making definitive predictions a fool’s errand.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
According to history, betting against Microsoft’s stock over the longer term has been a fool’s errand.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 24, 2026
And when it comes to healing, understanding the exact contribution to improvement is a fool’s errand.
From Slate ● Jan. 30, 2026
Sometimes they are victims of professional narcissism and write as if the reader were interested in every blind alley, fool’s errand, and wild-goose chase they engaged in while exploring the topic.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
