wasting breath
Talking without effect
To waste breath is to speak when your words will have no effect—arguing with someone who won't listen, explaining to someone who won't understand, or asking for something that won't be granted.
The phrase implies futility: Don't waste your breath trying to convince him.
Often appears as wasting your breath or in the negative: Save your breath.
- stubbornnessRefusal to yield
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- deaf earsUnwillingness to hear
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- lost causeEndeavor certain to fail
indifference · defeatism · futility · pointless · beating dead horse · exasperation · spinning wheels · apathy · ignored · unheeded · don't bother · miscommunication · disillusionment · hopelessness · discouragement · weariness · misunderstanding · unreceptive
wasting breathgetting through
making a difference · persuading · convincing · winning over · hitting home
wasting, breath, waste, wasted, wastes, wasteful, wastefully, wastefulness, wastage