fool's errand

English

Etymology

18th century.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Noun

fool's errand (plural fools' errands)

1. (idiomatic) A foolish undertaking, especially one that is purposeless, fruitless, nonsensical, or certain to fail.

   Synonyms: idiot's errand, lost errand, sleeveless errand, wild-goose chase

   • 1821, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 1, in Kenilworth:

     If I were to travel only that I might be discontented with that which I can get at home, methinks I should go but on a fool's errand.

   • 1988 March 7, Michael S. Serrill, “Diplomacy To Dream the Impossible Dream”, in Time‎^[1], archived from the original on 2013-06-30:

     Shultz took little notice of the Soviet view or that of others who said his Middle East mission was a fool's errand. "You can't be too afraid of failing," said the 67-year-old diplomat.

2. (idiomatic) Such an undertaking, assigned as a prank.

   Synonym: snipe hunt

Translations

foolish undertaking

• Finnish: hullun homma, hullutus
• German: vergebliche Mühe f, Metzgergang (de) m (rare, dated)
• Hebrew: ברכה לבטלה‎ (he), משימה שנידונה לכישלון‎, משימה אבודה מראש‎
• Italian: compito da pazzi, follia (it) f, impresa folle
• Japanese: 骨折り損 (honeorizon), むだ足 (mudaashi)
• Polish: próżny wysiłek m
• Spanish: misión imposible f, tarea de tontos f

prank — see snipe hunt

See also

• key to the midway
• wild-goose chase