PhrasesHub

Wild goose chase

    Definitions

      • Futile pursuit or attempt
        Used to describe a situation where someone is chasing or pursuing something that is impossible or unlikely to be achieved. It can also refer to a pointless or unproductive task or activity.

      • Vain hope or expectation
        Can be used to express the idea of chasing something or someone that is elusive or out of reach. It can also convey the idea of holding onto a hope or dream that is unlikely to come true.

      • Pointless or fruitless search
        Used to describe a situation where someone is searching for something that is not worth finding or is impossible to find. This can refer to both physical objects and abstract ideas or concepts.

    Examples of Wild goose chase

    • I've been chasing after this lead for days, but it's turned out to be a wild goose chase.

      This idiom is used to describe a fruitless or pointless pursuit. It originated from the medieval sport of hunting wild geese, which was often a challenging and time-consuming endeavor with no guarantee of success. When a hunt turned out to be unsuccessful, it was said to be a "wild goose chase."

    • The police spent hours chasing after a suspect's car, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase as the car was abandoned and the suspect had already fled on foot.

      In this example, the idiom is used to describe a futile and time-consuming pursuit that ultimately led nowhere.

    • I've been searching for the perfect gift for my friend's birthday, but it's been a wild goose chase as I can't seem to find anything she'll like.

      Here, the idiom is used to describe a frustrating and unsuccessful search for something that seems impossible to find.

    • The sales team has been chasing after every lead, but most of them have turned out to be wild goose chases.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a series of unsuccessful pursuits, highlighting the frustration and wasted effort involved.

    • The detective spent weeks chasing after a suspect, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase as the real culprit was hiding in plain sight.

      In this example, the idiom is used to describe a pursuit that was misguided or misdirected, leading the detective down a path that ultimately proved to be a waste of time.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "wild goose chase" is typically used to convey the idea of a futile pursuit or attempt. It can refer to chasing something that is impossible to achieve, holding onto a vain hope or expectation, or engaging in a pointless search. It is often used to caution against wasting time, effort, or resources on something that will not yield any positive results.

    The phrase is also commonly used in a figurative sense, implying that the pursuit is as difficult and elusive as trying to catch a wild goose. It can suggest a sense of frustration or exasperation with the task at hand, as well as a feeling of being led astray or misled.

    Origin of "Wild goose chase"

    The origin of the idiom "wild goose chase" can be traced back to medieval falconry, where trained falcons were used to hunt wild geese. This type of hunting was known for its difficulty and unpredictability, as geese are fast and agile birds that are difficult to catch. The phrase may have been first used in this literal sense, to describe the challenging and often fruitless pursuit of geese.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to take on a more figurative meaning. By the 16th century, it was being used to describe any pursuit or chase that was difficult or unlikely to result in success. The idiom gained further popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries, and has since become a common expression in the English language.

    Today, "wild goose chase" is used in a variety of contexts, from everyday conversations to literature and popular culture. Its origin in falconry may not be widely known, but the phrase continues to be a colorful and effective way to convey the idea of a futile or frustrating pursuit.