PhrasesHub

To set the Thames on fire

    Definitions

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

      • express disbelief
        Express skepticism or doubt about someone's ability to achieve something remarkable or extraordinary

    Examples of To set the Thames on fire

    • Trying to sell ice cream in a blizzard is like trying to set the Thames on fire.

      This idiom is used to describe a futile or impossible task. In this example, selling ice cream during a blizzard is like trying to light a fire on the Thames River in London because it's a place that's not conducive to setting fire to anything.

    • It's a waste of time to try and teach a cat to dance. It's as useless as attempting to set the Thames on fire.

      This example uses the idiom to compare two seemingly useless tasks. Both attempting to teach a cat to dance and setting the Thames on fire are considered impossible or pointless.

    • The entrepreneurs were pitching their groundbreaking idea to a crowd of investors, but their presentation was as unremarkable as trying to set the Thames on fire in a drought.

      Here, the idiom is used to explain how unarousing or dull a presentation was. The entrepreneurs' pitch was as uninteresting as trying to set the Thames on fire during a period of severe drought because the river would be too low to light on fire.

    • It's pointless to look for a needle in a haystack compared to trying to set the Thames on fire.

      This final example compares two challenging tasks, looking for a needle in a haystack and trying to set the Thames on fire, both of which are hard to achieve and considered impossible.

    • It's impossible to set the Thames on fire, no matter how dry the weather is.

      This idiom refers to the idea that some things are completely impossible or extremely difficult to achieve. The Thames is a large river in London, and it would be almost impossible to set fire to its entire width. This idiom can be used to illustrate that some tasks are so challenging or impossible that they might as well be as difficult as setting a river on fire.

    • Trying to organize this event is like trying to set the Thames on fire.

      Here, the idiom is used to illustrate the extent of the difficulty or challenge involved in organizing the event. It is being compared to an almost impossible task, which would be setting the Thames on fire. This idiom can help to convey the speaker's frustration with the level of difficulty involved.

    • We've tried everything to increase sales, but it's like trying to set the Thames on fire.

      This idiom is being used to show just how difficult it is to increase sales, even after trying everything possible. The idea of setting the Thames on fire is being used as a metaphor for an almost impossible task, which highlights the significant challenge involved in increasing sales.

    • Our team has been working around the clock, but it's still like trying to set the Thames on fire.

      Here, the idiom is being used to illustrate just how overwhelmingly difficult the task at hand is. Despite working tirelessly, the job still seems almost impossible, as difficult as trying to set the Thames on fire. This idiom can be used to convey the speaker's sense of frustration and exasperation with the level of difficulty involved.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "to set the Thames on fire" is a figurative expression used to discourage someone from engaging in a particular activity or to express disbelief in someone's ability to achieve something remarkable. It is often used to caution against pursuing a task that is unlikely to yield any positive outcome or to express doubt about someone's potential to accomplish something extraordinary.

    The idiom can be used in various contexts to advise against taking on a task that is bound to fail or to express skepticism about someone's capability to achieve something remarkable. It serves as a warning or a reminder that not everything is possible or achievable, and that sometimes it is better to be realistic about one's chances of success.

    Origin of "To set the Thames on fire"

    The origin of the idiom "to set the Thames on fire" is believed to date back to the 17th century, when the River Thames in London was a major trade route and a bustling hub of activity. The expression likely originated from the idea of attempting to set a large body of water on fire, which is obviously impossible. It is thought to have been used as a metaphor for attempting something unattainable or unrealistic.

    The idiom may have also been influenced by the historical context of the River Thames, which has been a central part of London's identity and a symbol of its prosperity and vitality. The idea of setting such an important and iconic river on fire would have been seen as an absurd and unachievable feat.

    Overall, the idiom "to set the Thames on fire" likely originated from the impossibility of setting a large body of water on fire and has since evolved to be used in a figurative sense to caution against unrealistic goals or to express skepticism about someone's abilities.