A wild goose chase
Meaning
A wild goose chase is a fruitless and absurd search or pursuit that is destined to fail.
Origin
The phrase "a wild goose chase" first appeared in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in the 16th century, though its original meaning was quite different from our modern sense of futility. It described a specific, exhilarating form of horseback riding—a chaotic "follow-the-leader" race where riders mimicked the erratic, meandering flight patterns of a flock of geese. The lead rider would veer unpredictably, and the others would attempt to keep pace, creating a disorderly spectacle of skill and speed. As this particular equestrian sport faded, the phrase evolved, shedding its literal context and broadening into the familiar metaphor for any pursuit that is aimless, disorganized, and ultimately doomed to fail, much like trying to catch an uncatchable, truly wild goose.
Examples
- After driving all over the city looking for that rare antique, I realized it was nothing more than a wild goose chase.
- The detective spent days following false leads, only to discover he had been on a wild goose chase the entire time.