be a fool's errand
To be a task that has little to no chance of being successful or beneficial. I'm telling you, it's a fool's errand trying to convince the boss to give you more time off. We've been fighting with the city to give us the permit to build on this site for nearly a year now. I'm starting to think that this is a bit of a fool's errand at this point. You're trying to peg him down to a logical, consistent ideology? Yeah, that's a fool's errand.
be on a fool's errand
To be tying to achieve, accomplish, or obtain something when one has little to no chance of being successful. You're on a fool's errand if you think you can convince the boss to give you more time off. We've been fighting with the city to give us the permit to build on this site for nearly a year now. It's starting to feel like we've been on a fool's errand this whole time. You're trying to peg him down to a logical, consistent ideology? Yeah, you're on a fool's errand.
do an errand
To make a short trip to complete a specific task or chore. Can you see if your father can come pick you up? I've been doing errands all day, and I don't want to trek across town yet again. I'm just stepping out to do an errand. I'll be back soon. I have to do an errand over that way, so I can drop you off at the library, no problem.
fool's errand
A task that has little to no chance of being successful or beneficial. You're on a fool's errand if you think you can convince the boss to give you more time off. We've been fighting with the city to give us the permit to build on this site for nearly a year now. It's starting to feel like a bit of a fool's errand at this point. Right, like you'll be able to convince Mom to give you a later curfew. There's a fool's errand!
go on an errand
To make a short trip to complete a specific task or chore. Can you see if your father can come pick you up? I've got to go on some errands. I'm just stepping out to go on an errand. I'll be back soon. I have to go on an errand over that way, so I can drop you off at the library, no problem.
on a fool's errand
Trying to achieve, accomplish, or obtain something when one has little to no chance of being successful. You're on a fool's errand if you think you can convince the boss to give you more time off. We've been fighting with the city to give us the permit to build on this site for nearly a year now. It's starting to feel like we've been on a fool's errand this whole time.
run an errand
To make a short trip to complete a specific task or chore. Can you see if your father can come pick you up? I've been running errands all day, and I don't want to trek across town yet again. I'm just stepping out to run an errand. I'll be back soon.
send (one) on an errand
To instruct or direct one to go out on a short trip in order to perform some specific task. The boss sent me on an errand to have these documents notarized. A: "Where's Tom?" B: "Oh, I sent him on a few errands around town. He should be back in a couple hours."
send (one) to glory
1. euphemism To kill one (i.e., to send one to heaven). "Glory" is sometimes capitalized in this usage. My faith in God is strong, so I have no fear of my enemies sending me to Glory. The boss sent Bobby Fisk around with a Tommy gun to send those dirty rats to glory.
2. To propel one to a position of great success, accomplishment, or fame. It was her last-minute goal that secured her team's victory and sent them to glory as the world champions.
send (one) up the river
To sentence one to prison; to cause one to go to prison. A federal judge just sent the CEO up the river for 45 years for defrauding millions of customers. The mob boss ordered a hit on the detective who had sent his right-hand man up the river.
sleeveless errand
A futile task. Studying for this class is a sleeveless errand. I'll never get an A—why should I even try? We like to haze the new chefs by sending them on some sleeveless errand. Usually we have them go to the market for oyster bones.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.