plow the sands
Meaning: To expend great effort on something completely futile or worthless.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Nature
Origin: The image is of plowing sand, which will yield nothing—the effort is wasted because the soil is barren and will not hold any useful seed.
More idioms — Nature
- Lord willing and the creek don't rise — Used to express contingency on circumstances beyond one's control, especially minor natur…
- stumbling block — An obstacle or barrier that impedes progress or causes difficulty.
- réduire la voilure — To cut back on spending, resources, or ambitions.
- faire florès — To achieve success and build a reputation.
- fuir comme la peste — To avoid something or someone as much as possible.
- tomber à l’eau — To be canceled or abandoned.
More English idioms
- loaded for bear — Fully prepared and equipped, mentally and materially, to face a difficult challenge or co…
- have someone's guts for garters — To punish someone severely, especially with angry or violent reprimand.
- spin one's wheels — To work hard without making any real progress toward a goal.
- until the cows come home — For an indefinitely long time; forever or seemingly forever.
- land in someone's lap — Something desirable comes to someone without effort or expectation on their part.
- wet one's whistle — To have a drink.