waste one's breath

1. Speak in vain (because no one agrees), as in Don't waste your breath complaining to the supervisor—it won't help. This notion was first recorded about 1400 as wasting words. The exact idiom was first recorded in 1667. Also see save one's breath.

Example Sentences

A priori one may argue about its hostility, essential or other, to the artistic, the constructive spirit; but to do so is at the most to beat the air, to waste one's breath, to Ruskinize, in a word.

From Project Gutenberg

It is hard when, in the race for woman's favor, one has to waste one's breath in making the running for one's rival.

From Project Gutenberg