merry chase
Exhausting futile pursuit
A merry chase is a prolonged, often futile pursuit—someone or something leading you on an extended runaround: The suspect led police on a merry chase through three counties.
Despite "merry," the phrase usually carries irritation or exhaustion.
It appears most often with "lead" or "give": The cat gave us a merry chase before we caught her.
- huntPursuit of quarry
- snipe huntPrank seeking nonexistent prey
- wild gooseUndomesticated migratory waterfowl
- raceCompetition of speed
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
dead end · pursuit · run around · tracking · paper trail · search · elusive · evasive · hide and seek · hounding · lost cause · difficulties · playful · frolicsome · gleeful · quest · trail · hurdles
- wild goose chasesfool's errand, snipe hunt, futile effort
- Shakespeare phrasesto be or not to be, et tu Brute, all the world's a stage, out damned spot, friends Romans countrymen
merry chasedirect path
Straight line between points
straight shot · beeline · shortcut · direct route · straight line
merry chasesitting duck
Defenseless person or thing
easy mark · low-hanging fruit · sure thing · easy prey · cinch
merry chaseopen communication
Unrestricted exchange of information
merry, chase, merrily, merriment, merriness, merrier, merriest, chased, chases