rearrange

rearrange (the) deckchairs on the Titanic

To partake in or undertake some task, activity, or course of action that will ultimately prove trivial or futile in its possible effect or outcome. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. For all his blustering about overhauling the education system, the prime minister might as well have been rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic for all the good these proposals will do. You're applying for arts council funding? Why don't you just rearrange deckchairs on the Titanic while you're at it?

See also: deckchairs, on, rearrange, titanic

be like rearranging (the) deckchairs on the Titanic

To be a task, activity, or course of action that will ultimately prove trivial or futile in its possible effect or outcome. You're giving the baby a bath before we eat spaghetti? That's like rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.

See also: deckchairs, like, on, rearrange, titanic

rearrange (one's) face

1. To change one's facial expression, especially to hide a negative feeling or reaction. Hearing the news filled me with shock and despair, so I took a moment to rearrange my face before returning to the table.

2. To badly damage or mutilate one's face by violently attacking it. He threatened to rearrange my face if I didn't give him everything in my pockets. He's a towering bulk of man who could rearrange your face with a single punch.

See also: face, rearrange

rearrange someone's face

injure or mutilate someone's face by hitting it. informal

See also: face, rearrange

rearrange the ˌdeckchairs on the Tiˈtanic

if something is like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, it is an activity that is not worth doing because it cannot improve the situation: None of the staff believe that the new system will improve anything. It’s simply a case of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.This expression refers to the famous ship that sank after hitting an iceberg on its first voyage.

See also: deckchairs, on, rearrange, titanic