from pillar to post

Cultural  

1. From one place or thing to another in rapid succession: “Abernathy couldn't stick to one project and was always dashing from pillar to post.”

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from pillar to post Idioms  

1. From one thing or place to another, hither and thither. For example, After Kevin joined the Air Force, the family kept moving from pillar to post. This expression began life in the early 1400s as from post to pillar, an order no longer used, and is thought to allude to the banging about of a ball in the game of court tennis.

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Example Sentences

That’s Seth Rogen as Mario’s traditional adversary Donkey Kong, bellowing as he belts Mario from pillar to post.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 4, 2023

They were sent from pillar to post, travelling between three hospitals, until they finally found Lisa in the early hours of the next morning.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2023

These encampments pop up all over the city, and no wonder, since the residents are chased from pillar to post without any other options.

From Washington Post • Feb. 5, 2023

Investigating her mysterious grandparents as well, Keane finds complexity in their lives as a military couple, moved at sporadic intervals from pillar to post.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2022

And everywhere the name bandied from pillar to post was that of Mr. Caspar Brooke, who had been arrested on suspicion of having caused the death of Oliver Trent.

From Brooke's Daughter A Novel by Sergeant, Adeline