chase (one's) tail
(redirected from chase their tail)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.
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.
chase your (own) tail
keep on doing something futile. informalchase 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 nounIf a dog or cat chases its tail, it runs round in circles trying to bite its own tail.
chase (one's) tail
To exert oneself vigorously but ineffectually.