mug's game
Fool's hopeless endeavor
A mug's game is an activity that's foolish to pursue because it's unlikely to succeed or profit anyone but a fool.
Mug here means a gullible person, an easy mark.
The phrase is British in origin but widely understood: Trying to time the stock market is a mug's game.
Gambling is a mug's game—the house always wins.
- wild goose chaseHopeless pursuit of nothing
- trickDeliberate deception
- chasing rainbowsPursuing unrealistic goals
- suckerEasily fooled person
- easy markReadily deceived person
deal · fool's errand · tilting at windmills · gambling · con artistry · snake oil · pyramid scheme · patsy · dupe · rube · barking up the wrong tree · mark · treasure hunting · fool's gold · speculative investment · three card monte · simpleton · bluff
mug's gamesure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
safe bet · no-brainer · calculated risk · good bet · winning strategy
mug's gamegoldmine
Rich ore deposit
cash cow · money spinner · sure winner · bonanza · jackpot
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