send (one) from pillar to post

send (one) from pillar to post

To instruct or direct one to travel from place to place, especially in a futile, indeterminate, or impermanent manner. They've been sending me from pillar to post looking for the right replacement part, but nowhere seems to have it. He's been sent from pillar to post for his work. I wish they would give him a break from so much travel.

See also: pillar, post, send

send someone from pillar to post

Fig. to send someone to many different places, none of which is the correct place. (Compare this with send someone on a wild-goose chase.) Jill sent Roger from pillar to post to look for a special kind of paper. Roger was sent from pillar to post with his problem.

See also: pillar, post, send

send someone from pillar to post

tv. to send someone from place to place; to give someone the runaround. Red tape everywhere I went. They sent me from pillar to post until closing time.

See also: pillar, post, send, someone