chase (one's) tail
To take action that is ineffectual and does not lead to progress. Refers to how a dog can exhaust itself by chasing its own tail. Come on, Bill, go to sleep. You're just chasing your tail at this point, but you might have a breakthrough with the research if you take a break from it. I'm trying not to chase my tail on this project, but so many components of it are just not working out. I'm chasing my tail trying to talk to a person at the cable company. I've been hold for an hour now!
chase tail
slang To pursue or seek out sexual activity with someone. (Usually used by men to refer to women.) My brother always spends his weekends chasing tail in bars around town. A: "Getting any lately?" B: "Nah, I've been too busy with finals to chase tail." I'm not looking to chase tail anymore. I'm ready to settle down.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
chase your (own) tail
keep on doing something futile. informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
chase your (own) ˈtail
be very busy but in fact achieve very little: In my first month at college I was continually chasing my own tail and being late for everything. ▶ ˈtail-chasing noun If a dog or cat chases its tail, it runs round in circles trying to bite its own tail.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
chase (one's) tail
To exert oneself vigorously but ineffectually.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.