IdiomThe Absurd
English
Englishlike rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic
Meaning: Doing something pointless while a disaster happens.
Example: “Changing the company logo while it loses millions is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Origin: Refers to the liner that sank in 1912: tidying the chairs would not have saved the ship. The phrase became popular in the 1970s, when it was used in American politics.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Un cautère sur une jambe de bois Literally: A cautery on a wooden leg
More English idioms
- shoot oneself in the foot To damage one's own interests through a foolish action.
- make a pass at To make a sexual or romantic advance toward someone.
- overstep the mark To go beyond what is acceptable.
- shoot down in flames To reject or destroy an idea or argument completely.
- set tongues wagging To cause people to gossip.
- rough around the edges Lacking polish or refinement, though basically good.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Hygge The warm contentment of simple, cozy pleasures shared with people you love — candles, bla…
- Komorebi The dappled light that filters through leaves and scatters across the ground.
- Schadenfreude The guilty little pleasure of taking satisfaction in someone else's misfortune.
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