nailing Jell-O to a wall
Futile sticky endeavor
Nailing Jell-O to a wall describes an impossible or futile task—something that can't be accomplished no matter how much effort you apply.
The image captures attempts to pin down something that won't hold still or take a fixed form: Getting a straight answer from him is like nailing Jell-O to a wall.
Often used for evasive people, slippery arguments, or problems that resist solution.
- SisypheanEndlessly, pointlessly laborious
- impossible taskUndertaking that cannot succeed
- tongue-in-cheekHumorously not meant literally
- herding catsCoordinating the uncoordinated
- quixoticImpractically pursuing lofty goals
uphill battle · lost cause · shifting sands · nonsensical · house of cards · futile · exercise in futility · tilting at windmills · farcical · unachievable · chasing rainbows · pointless · absurd · wild goose chase · grasping at straws · impractical · moving target · fool's errand
nailing Jell-O to a wallchild's play
Something extremely easy
low-hanging fruit · money in the bank · open and shut case · slam dunk · piece of cake
nailing Jell-O to a walleasy as pie
Extremely simple to accomplish
paint by numbers · connect the dots · cut and dried · by the book · black and white