What kind of phrase is wild goose chase?
a wild or absurd search for something nonexistent or unobtainable: a wild-goose chase looking for a building long demolished. any senseless pursuit of an object or end; a hopeless enterprise: Her scheme of being a movie star is a wild-goose chase.
What does it mean to go on a goose chase?
countable noun [usu on N] If you are on a wild goose chase, you waste a lot of time searching for something that you have little chance of finding, because you have been given incorrect information.
Why is it called wild goose chase?
It’s believed that this phrase’s origin is rooted in some type of 16th century horse racing. Apparently, back then, a ‘wild goose chase’ was a horse race in which the lead rider would be pursued by other riders, which is said to be similar to how geese flying in a formation will follow the one in the lead.
Is it a wild goose chase comes under?
If you are on a wild goose chase, you waste a lot of time searching for something that you have little chance of finding, because you have been given incorrect information. Harry wondered if Potts had deliberately sent him on a wild goose chase.
What does wild goose mean?
1 : an undomesticated goose: such as. a England : greylag.
What is the meaning of the idiom a white elephant?
noun. a possession unwanted by the owner but difficult to dispose of: Our Victorian bric-a-brac and furniture were white elephants. a possession entailing great expense out of proportion to its usefulness or value to the owner: When he bought the mansion he didn’t know it was going to be such a white elephant.
What does the whole hog mean?
Definition of go (the) whole hog informal. : to do something in a very thorough and complete way If we’re going to have a party, we might as well go the whole hog and hire a band.
What does get the goat mean?
To make someone annoyed or angry: “Gavin may seem unflappable, but I know a way to get his goat.” This expression comes from a tradition in horse racing. Thought to have a calming effect on high-strung thoroughbreds, a goat was placed in the horse’s stall on the night before the race.
What does the idiom bite one’s lip mean?
to prevent yourself from showing your reaction to something by speaking or laughing: I really wanted to laugh – I had to bite my lip. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Not showing or feeling emotions.
What is the meaning of the idiom bad blood?
Bad blood is a feeling of ill will, anger, or hostility between people. When there’s bad blood, people aren’t getting along. Besides its literal meaning, the word blood has long been used to refer to people’s emotions. Bad blood tends to make people hot-blooded: angry.
Was by turns Meaning?
phrase. You can use by turns to indicate that someone has two particular emotions or qualities, one after the other. His tone was by turns angry and aggrieved. Synonyms: alternately, in succession, turn and turn about, reciprocally More Synonyms of by turns.
What is the meaning of let’s call it a day?
Stop a particular activity for the rest of the day, as in It’s past five o’clock so let’s call it a day. Similarly, call it a night means “to stop something for the rest of the night,” as in One more hand of bridge and then let’s call it a night.
What is the meaning of sixes and sevens?
“At sixes and sevens” is an English idiom used to describe a condition of confusion or disarray.
What does the idiom down pat mean?
Definitions of down pat. adjective. understood perfectly. synonyms: down, mastered perfect. being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish.
What is a synonym for down pat?
What is another word for down pat?
| understood | implicit |
|---|---|
| pat | tacit |
| unsaid | unspoken |
| unstated | axiomatic |
| inferential | on to |
What does the idiom the deck will be stacked against you mean?
Definition. Idiom: stack the deck against someone / have the deck stacked against someone. to make arrangements so it’s very difficult for somebody to achieve something. to face difficult and unfair circumstances when trying to achieve something.