PhrasesHub

Tilting at windmills

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • pursuing an impossible goal
        Describing someone who is persistently trying to achieve something that is unlikely or impossible to accomplish

    Examples of Tilting at windmills

    • She spends hours each day arguing against fake news on social media. It feels like she's tilting at windmills; she's fighting an unbeatable foe.

      In the medieval tale Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, a man named Don Quixote believed the windmills he saw were actually giants he had to fight. This metaphor, "tilting at windmills," refers to pursuing a pointless or hopeless cause, just as Don Quixote's fight against imaginary giants was futile. By spending so much time battling fake news online, the person in this example is engaging in a seemingly endless and ultimately fruitless task, much like Don Quixote's battle against the windmills.

    • Although he has done everything in his power to get the company's product approved by the FDA, it seems like he is tilting at windmills. The FDA is notoriously hard to convince, and he may need to explore other avenues.

      Here, "tilting at windmills" suggests that the person's efforts to get the product approved are in vain because the FDA is a difficult and seemingly unbeatable opponent, much like Don Quixote's futile fight against windmills. It implies that the person may need to approach the problem from a different angle, as their current approach seems unlikely to succeed.

    • The coach spent hours creating a new drill for the team, but it fell apart as soon as they tried it out. It was like tilting at windmills - the coach had put all his energy into a losing cause.

      In this example, "tilting at windmills" implies that the coach's new drill was an impractical and ultimately unsuccessful idea, just as Don Quixote's battle against windmills was futile. It suggests that the coach's well-intentioned efforts to improve the team's performance ultimately fell apart, leaving the coach feeling dejected and defeated.

    • The politician spent months advocating for a change in policy, but it seemed like she was tilting at windmills. The opposing party showed no signs of changing their position, and her efforts seemed like a waste of time.

      In this final example, "tilting at windmills" suggests that the politician's efforts to change policy were doomed to fail because the opposing party wasn't open to negotiation or compromise. As Don Quixote's fight against windmills was ultimately pointless, so too was the politician's quest to change policy in the face of seemingly insurmountable opposition. It highlights the futility of pursuing a cause that seems hopeless or impossible to achieve.

    • Margaret has been trying to reform the entire education system in her state, but with little success. Some people have criticized her efforts, saying she's just tilting at windmills.

      In this example, Margaret is attempting to make significant changes in the education system, but some people believe that her efforts are fruitless and futile. The idiom "tilting at windmills" is used to describe an action that seems important but is actually pointless or impossible to achieve, like Don Quixote's attempt to fight windmills that he mistook for giants. Here, Margaret is seen as someone fighting an unbeatable foe or trying to accomplish an unattainable goal, much like Don Quixote's heroic journey.

    • After months of research, David presented his findings to the board of directors, only to be met with indifference. Some say he's been tilting at windmills, wasting his time and energy on a losing cause.

      In this example, David has invested a significant amount of time and effort into his research, but his presentation to the board of directors did not yield the desired result. Some people believe that he has been working on a losing cause, much like Don Quixote's clashes with windmills. The expression "tilting at windmills" is used to describe an action that's futile, unproductive, and destined to fail.

    • Sarah has been campaigning for stricter gun control laws, but it seems like her efforts are falling on deaf ears. Some people think she's just wasting her time and tilting at windmills.

      In this example, Sarah is trying to bring about stricter gun control laws, but her efforts seem to have little impact. Some people believe that her efforts are fruitless and that she's fighting an unbeatable foe. The expression "tilting at windmills" is used to describe an action that's pointless, unproductive, and likely to yield no results.

    • Tim has been working tirelessly to improve the company's online presence, but his boss seems uninterested. Some say Tim is tilting at windmills, wasting his time and energy on a losing cause.

      In this example, Tim is trying to enhance the company's online presence, but his boss doesn't seem to value his efforts. Some people believe that Tim's efforts are fruitless, much like Don Quixote's battles against windmills. The expression "tilting at windmills" is used to describe an action that's unproductive, pointless, and destined to yield no results.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "tilting at windmills" is used to discourage someone from engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit. It also describes someone who is persistently trying to achieve something that is unlikely or impossible to accomplish.

    Origin of "Tilting at windmills"

    The idiom "tilting at windmills" originated from the novel "Don Quixote" written by Miguel de Cervantes. In the novel, the main character, Don Quixote, attacks windmills, believing them to be giants. This action is seen as foolish and futile because he is essentially fighting imaginary enemies. Over time, the phrase "tilting at windmills" has come to symbolize the act of fighting imaginary enemies or pursuing a goal that is unrealistic or unattainable.

    The idiom has since been used in literature, everyday conversations, and popular culture to describe people who are engaging in fruitless or impractical pursuits. It is a vivid and memorable way to caution against wasting time and effort on endeavors that are unlikely to yield any positive results.