wild-goose chase

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a wild-goose chase

a situation where you waste time looking for something that you are not going to find, either because that thing does not exist or because you have been given wrong information about it. After two hours spent wandering in the snow, I realised we were on a wild-goose chase. When I found out that there was no Anita Hill at the university, I began to suspect that I had been sent on a wild-goose chase.

See also: chase

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? References in classic literature
I think, young lady, if you will allow me to say so that you are making a needless mystery of the matter, and further, that you are embarking upon what will certainly prove to be a wild-goose chase. A Millionaire of Yesterday by Oppenheim, E. Phillips View in context On the instant a score of the men who had declined to accompany him on the wild-goose chase were crowding about him with proffered gold-sacks. Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context From the beginning he has never concealed his belief that Professor Challenger is an absolute fraud, that we are all embarked upon an absurd wild-goose chase and that we are likely to reap nothing but disappointment and danger in South America, and corresponding ridicule in England. The Lost World by Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan View in context More results

References in classic literature

I think, young lady, if you will allow me to say so that you are making a needless mystery of the matter, and further, that you are embarking upon what will certainly prove to be a wild-goose chase.

A Millionaire of Yesterday by Oppenheim, E. Phillips View in context

On the instant a score of the men who had declined to accompany him on the wild-goose chase were crowding about him with proffered gold-sacks.

Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context

From the beginning he has never concealed his belief that Professor Challenger is an absolute fraud, that we are all embarked upon an absurd wild-goose chase and that we are likely to reap nothing but disappointment and danger in South America, and corresponding ridicule in England.

The Lost World by Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan View in context

More results

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wide boy
wide open
wild
wild about
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wild-goose chase
wilderness
wildest
wildest dreams
wildfire
will be along
will go a long way
will never fly

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