pissing in the wind
Pointless messy endeavor
Pissing in the wind means making a futile effort—one that accomplishes nothing or backfires on you.
Like urinating into a headwind, the attempt defeats itself: Trying to change his mind is pissing in the wind.
The phrase emphasizes not just failure but the foolishness of the endeavor.
- futileIncapable of producing results
- hopelessBeyond possibility of success
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
- tilting at windmillsAttacking nonexistent threats
- pointlessLacking any purpose
beating a dead horse · spinning wheels · barking up the wrong tree · useless · ineffective · self-defeating · Sisyphean · fruitless · backfiring · vain · going nowhere fast · swimming upstream · impractical · undermining · obstructive · lost cause · rearranging deck chairs · damaging
pissing in the windstriking gold
Finding valuable ore deposit
hitting the nail on the head · making headway · making a difference · moving the needle · getting results
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