waste (one's) breath
(redirected from we are wasting our breath)waste (one's) breath
To talk of, discuss, or say things that are likely to be ignored or are in vain. Don't bother trying to change my mind about this, you're wasting your breath! It looks like I wasted my breath trying to pitch my idea to the board of directors.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
waste one's breath
Fig. to waste one's time talking; to talk in vain. Don't waste your breath talking to her. She won't listen. You can't persuade me. You're just wasting your breath.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
waste one's breath
Speak in vain (because no one agrees), as in Don't waste your breath complaining to the supervisor-it won't help. This notion was first recorded about 1400 as wasting words. The exact idiom was first recorded in 1667. Also see save one's breath.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
waste your breath
talk or give advice without effect.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
waste your ˈbreath (on somebody/something)
speak to somebody or about somebody/something but not have any effect: Don’t waste your breath on her. She doesn’t take advice from anybody. ♢ I feel like I’m just wasting my breath trying to explain things to him.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
waste (one's) breath
To gain or accomplish nothing by speaking.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
waste one's breath, to
To talk in vain, because no one will listen. The idea that breath is something that can be saved or wasted dates from the sixteenth century (see also save your breath). Tennyson used the term in “In Memoriam” (1850): “I trust I have not wasted breath.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer