wild goose chase
Meaning
A pointless or futile search or pursuit that is unlikely to succeed or leads nowhere.
Origin
Popularized by Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet*, where “wild-goose chase” referred to a kind of erratic horse race; it later generalized to mean a futile pursuit.
Notes
Implies frustration and wasted effort, often due to false leads or being misled. Common in speech and writing. Can sound dismissive of someone’s efforts, so use tactfully.
Examples
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He followed the old map looking for treasure, but it turned into a wild goose chase.
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The police spent hours on a wild goose chase because of the anonymous tip.
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Let’s stop assuming the bug is in the database—it’s a wild goose chase.
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She realized chasing her ex was a wild goose chase and decided to move on.
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We went all over town for that “cheap flight deal,” but it was a wild goose chase from the start.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a noun phrase: “a wild goose chase,” “go on a wild goose chase,” “send someone on a wild goose chase.” Article “a” is typical; can pluralize (“wild goose chases”).
Synonyms
- fool's errand
- futile search
- fruitless pursuit
- snipe hunt
Antonyms
- a productive search
- a fruitful pursuit
- a sure thing