PhrasesHub

From pillar to post

    Definitions

      • to go from one place to another without any purpose or direction
        Often used to describe aimless or futile wandering or traveling

      • to be tossed around or moved constantly
        Can be used in a physical sense (e.g. being jostled in a crowd) or a metaphorical sense (e.g. constantly changing jobs or living situations)

    Examples of From pillar to post

    • She applied for countless jobs and moved from one address to another, seemingly from pillar to post, in her quest for employment.

      The idiom "from pillar to post" refers to moving constantly from place to place or situation to situation. In this example, the woman's search for a job led her to apply to many different companies, and she likely moved multiple times as a result of this search. This phrase can also suggest a sense of instability or uncertainty in one's circumstances.

    • The job applicant bounced around from company to company, searching for the right fit.

      The phrase "from pillar to post" is used to describe someone moving frequently from one place or job to another, similar to moving from one pillar to another in a building. This idiom highlights the idea that the person is constantly searching for stability or a permanent solution. In this example, the job applicant is searching for the right company to work for, much like moving from one pillar to another in search of a stable and reliable job.

    • After her father's death, the young woman walked from door to door, seeking temporary shelter.

      The phrase "from pillar to post" can also be interpreted to mean moving from one place to another in search of temporary or short-term solutions. In this example, the woman was forced to seek temporary shelter after her father's death, much like moving from one pillar to another to find a temporary resting place.

    • I keep my ideas in motion, testing them from corner to corner.

      Although less common, the phrase "from pillar to post" can also be used in a metaphorical sense to describe someone testing or exploring ideas. In this example, the speaker is exploring various ideas, testing and refining them from one corner to another, much like moving from one pillar to another to understand the intricate details of an idea.

    • The elderly man's memories faded, and he forgot where he'd left off, going from wall to wall.

      The phrase "from pillar to post" can also be used to describe someone forgetting or losing track of their thoughts, much like moving from one wall to another and forgetting where they started. In this example, the elderly man's memories faded, causing him to forget where he'd left off, much like moving from one wall to another and losing track of his thoughts.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "from pillar to post" is used to describe a state of being lost or without direction, often in a literal sense of wandering from one place to another or being tossed around. It can also be used more figuratively to describe a lack of stability or consistency in one's life, such as constantly changing jobs or living situations.

    Origin of "From pillar to post"

    The origins of this idiom are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in England in the 16th or 17th century. The earliest recorded use of the phrase was in Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew" in 1596, where it was used to describe a character's aimless travels.

    There are a few theories about the origin of the phrase. One theory suggests that it comes from the game of "bottle-cap" or "skittles," where the goal was to hit a wooden pillar with a ball and then make the ball land on a post. This game was often played in taverns, and it's possible that the phrase "from pillar to post" was used to describe someone who was constantly losing or bouncing around in the game.

    Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from the sport of polo, where players must hit a ball between two posts on either end of the field. It's possible that the phrase was used to describe a player who was constantly moving back and forth between the posts without making any progress towards the goal.

    Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom "from pillar to post" has stood the test of time and is still widely used today to describe a state of aimless wandering or constant movement without any clear direction.