wild goose chase
Upper Intermediate (B2)informal
A pointless or hopeless search.
"Looking for that document turned into a complete wild goose chase."
Hear it in context
Embodied Souls — Lessons from Neurology V.S. Ramachandran
University of California Television (UCTV) · 20:27
Nine out 10 times a wild goose chase.
My Daughter's Secret Sleepover in a Mall
Jordan Matter · 22:40
Man, Jordan got me on a wild goose chase.
You've Been Lied to About DNA Evidence
Be Smart · 5:53
on a wild goose chase across Europe for years.
Vic Mensa: Who is the Real Threat?
Trevor Noah · 34:08
He saw it JUST PUT IN A WILD goose chase.
The Greatest Escape in History
IMPERIAL · 17:04
troops and led them on a wild goose chase diverting resources