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flea in the jar

refers to futility

Etymology:

  • The origin of this expression lies in the story of a flea in the jar who repeatedly bangs it's head against the lid to get out. The flea finally stops. Once that happens it is said that the flea will still not try to get out of the jar because it has learned it is futile to try.
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I may as well start interviewing for another job. I've been up for promotion and been passed over so many times that I'm just a flea in the jar at this point.

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Submitted by TriplePurple on December 03, 2023

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to flea in the jar

with one's hand in the cookie jarcatch someone with one's hand in the co…caught with one's hand in the cookie jarflea in one's ear

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