Synonyms for wild goose chase
| Grammar : Adj, noun |
| Spell : wahyld-goos |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈwaɪldˈgus |
Top 10 synonyms for wild goose chase
- attention-grabber
- bait
- barren
- bootless errand
- chase
- commotion
- curve ball
- deviation
- distraction
- distractor
- disturbance
- diversion
- diversionary tactic
- empty
- false clue
- false face
- false trail
- fishing expedition
- fool's errand
- frisking
- gainless
- gimmick
- going-over
- idle
- in vain
- infertile
- inquest
- interruption
- legwork
- lost cause
- maneuver
- merry chase
- perquisition
- ploy
- pointless
- profitless
- pursual
- pursuance
- pursuing
- pursuit
- quest
- red herring
- research
- rummage
- scrutiny
- shakedown
- smoke screen
- snipe hunt
- spinning one's wheels
- sterile
- to no avail
- to no effect
- unavailable
- unavailing
- unfruitful
- unproductive
- unprofitable
- unprolific
- unsuccessful
- useless
- vain
- vain attempt
- waste of time
- wasted effort
- wasted labor
- wild goose chase
- wild-goose chase
- witch hunt
Définition of wild goose chase
Origin :- 1592, first attested in "Romeo and Juliet," where it evidently is a figurative use of an earlier (but unrecorded) literal sense in reference to a kind of follow-the-leader steeplechase.
- As in fruitless : adj bringing no advantage, product
- As in red herring : noun misleading clue
- As in search : noun seeking to find something
- As in wild-goose chase : noun hopeless case
- Twas a wild goose chase, and I wot not what moved me to run after it.
- Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
- "It's a wild goose chase we're on," muttered his companion after a while.
- Extract from : « Flamsted quarries » by Mary E. Waller
- They may be worth a good deal before we get back from this wild goose chase.
- Extract from : « Down the Slope » by James Otis
- You are a fine one to send us off on a wild goose chase like that!
- Extract from : « The Meadow-Brook Girls on the Tennis Courts » by Janet Aldridge
- Were of the opinion it is all a wild goose chase so were staying here.
- Extract from : « The Adventure Girls at K Bar O » by Clair Blank
- He said there was no use of our going on a wild goose chase.
- Extract from : « Roy Blakeley's Motor Caravan » by Percy Keese Fitzhugh
- Do you think it worth while to send me to Vicksburg on a wild goose chase?
- Extract from : « The White Rose of Memphis » by William C. Falkner
- Our hunt for buffaloes was proving to be a kind of wild goose chase.
- Extract from : « Life and Adventures of 'Billy' Dixon » by Billy Dixon
- I began to get the feeling that we were on a wild goose chase, after all.
- Extract from : « Nor Iron Bars a Cage.... » by Gordon Randall Garrett
- Now she told herself that it was certainly a wild goose chase.
- Extract from : « The Shepherd of the North » by Richard Aumerle Maher
Antonyms for wild goose chase
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019