fool's errand

American  

noun

1. a completely absurd, pointless, or useless errand.

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fool's errand British  

noun

1. a fruitless undertaking

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fool's errand Idioms  

1. A fruitless mission or undertaking, as in Asking the bank for yet another loan was clearly a fool's errand. [c. 1700]

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Example Sentences

Trying to explain journalistic ethics to a lifelong criminal was probably a fool’s errand, but I still tried.

From Slate

On a normal cruise out of Florida, finding a free chair with a view of the ocean can be a fool’s errand, unless you’re willing to get up at daybreak.

From The Wall Street Journal

Teasing out the plot’s tangled threads and expecting each to adhere to logic is a fool’s errand, yet what viewer will insist this type of picture have an airtight story?

From The Wall Street Journal

Showing Kyziridis the inside and inviting him to have a crack is a fool's errand, but that's what they did and that's how they fell behind again.

From BBC

However, when your destination is itinerant and camouflaged by galaxies of LED lights, finding a particular art car in the dark can be a fool’s errand.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ploy
• smokescreen