PhrasesHub

Flogging a dead horse

    Definitions

      • Wasting effort
        Continuing to work on something that is no longer productive or useful, often out of habit or stubbornness

      • Beating a dead horse
        Rehashing an argument or discussing a topic that has already been decided or resolved, often to the point of annoyance or frustration

    Examples of Flogging a dead horse

    • The company has already closed down, but some of its executives are still trying to promote new ideas, as if flogging a dead horse.

      This idiom refers to a situation where someone is persistently trying to revive something that is no longer viable or useful. It implies that the effort put in is futile and wasteful, as it's impossible to bring back the dead horse to life. In this example, the company's executives are wasting their time and resources by pursuing new ideas for a business that no longer exists.

    • Even after the athlete got injured and his career was over, his fans kept hoping for a comeback, as if they were flogging a dead horse.

      This idiom is used when people continue to feel optimistic about a situation that is hopeless. It means that the fans' expectations are unrealistic and misplaced, as the athlete's career has been irrevocably ended by his injury. By flogging a dead horse, the fans are wasting their time and resources on an impossible outcome.

    • The opposition party kept criticizing the government's policies, as if they were flogging a dead horse.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where people persistently and insistently criticize something that is already established and cannot be changed. It implies that their criticism is pointless and fruitless, as the policy has already been introduced and implemented. By flogging a dead horse, the opposition party is wasting their energy and resources on an issue that has already been resolved.

    • The author kept editing and rewriting her manuscript, as if she were flogging a dead horse.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone keeps changing and revising something that should be left alone. It implies that the author's efforts are unnecessary and excessively time-consuming, as the manuscript has probably already undergone numerous revisions. By flogging a dead horse, the author is wasting her time and resources, as she is pursuing a futile goal.In all these examples, flogging a dead horse refers to the futile and persistent efforts that are put into a situation that cannot be changed, and have an improbable or impossible outcome. It is used to highlight the waste of time and resources, as well as the futility of pursuing a lost cause.

    • The sales team kept presenting the same marketing strategy to the CEO, despite the fact that it had already been rejected multiple times. They were effectively flogging a dead horse.

      The idiom "flogging a dead horse" means wasting time and energy on something that has already failed or is no longer productive. In this case, the sales team was continuing to push a marketing strategy that had already been deemed ineffective, which was a waste of their time and resources.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "flogging a dead horse" conveys the idea of putting effort into something that is no longer worth it. It is often used to discourage someone from pursuing a pointless or unproductive task, or to express frustration with someone who is stubbornly refusing to let go of a futile endeavor.

    In the first meaning, the intention is to discourage someone from wasting their time and energy on something that will not yield any positive results. It can also be used to caution against investing resources into a project or idea that is no longer viable. The phrase suggests that the task or project is already "dead" and therefore cannot be revived, making any further effort futile.

    The second meaning of "flogging a dead horse" is often used in interpersonal conflicts or debates. It implies that the argument or discussion has already been settled and there is no point in continuing to discuss it. It can also convey annoyance or frustration with someone who is stubbornly holding onto a point or viewpoint that has already been proven wrong or resolved.

    Origin of "Flogging a dead horse"

    The origin of this idiom is believed to come from the practice of using a whip to try and motivate a horse to move, even if it is already dead. In the 17th century, this phrase was used to describe a futile attempt at getting a horse to move forward. Over time, it evolved to refer to any pointless or useless effort.

    The phrase first appeared in writing in 1808 in a political satire by John Wolcot, where he used it to criticize the British government's attempts to revive the economy. However, the phrase did not gain widespread use until the 19th century.

    Today, "flogging a dead horse" is a commonly used idiom in both British and American English, and its origin is often unknown or forgotten by those who use it. It continues to be a vivid and effective way to convey the idea of wasting effort on something that is no longer productive or useful.