howl at the moon
Pointless nocturnal wailing
To howl at the moon is to engage in futile or pointless expression—venting frustration or desire toward something that cannot respond.
The image comes from dogs or wolves baying at the night sky.
Someone howling at the moon may be raging against circumstances beyond their control, or simply indulging in wild, primal release: After the divorce was final, he drove to the desert and howled at the moon.
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
- feralWild after domestication
- lunacyExtreme irrational foolishness
- SisypheanEndlessly, pointlessly laborious
- lost causeEndeavor certain to fail
protest · night sky · wilderness · quixotic · tilting at windmills · yearning · raw emotion · catharsis · absurdity · primal · primal scream · untamed · nocturnal · defiance · werewolf · instinct · cry out · hopelessness
howl at the moonget things done
take action · make a difference · roll up one's sleeves · move the needle · bear fruit
howl at the moonstay calm
Remain unruffled
keep a cool head · bite one's tongue · suffer in silence · grin and bear it · keep a stiff upper lip
howl, moon, howls, howled, howling, howler, howlers, moons, mooned