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

See Examples For:

from pillar to post

As part of the changes, the government will look at how organisations such as Trading Standards work with regulators and enforcement bodies "so consumers are not passed from pillar to post".

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

The Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the plan will bring down "devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated".

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025

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

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

Bradbury hunted him from pillar to post, and could find him nowhere.

From International Short Stories English by Various