Etymology:
- The expression was first used by William Shakespeare in his famous play Romeo and Juliet. The expression gained popularity in the 17th century. The phrase stem from the fact that it is almost impossible to catch a wild goose. The expression is similar to catching a greased pig i.e. a very difficult task. This idiom can also be used to refer to a particular horse race where the horses are bound to follow the leader.
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Submitted on February 25, 2019
Additional definitions for 'Wild-Goose Chase':
| wild-goose chase | A futile search, a fruitless errand; a useless and often lengthy pursuit. |
| wild-goose chase | A task whose execution is inordinately complex relative to the value of the outcome. |
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Wild-Goose Chase
walk on the wild sidewild horseswhat's sauce for the goose is sauce for…wild turkeywild cherrywouldn't say boo to a goosewhat's good for the goose is good …what's good for the goose is good for t…what's good for the goose is good for t…wild cherrywalk on the wild sidewild cherrythe old woman is plucking her goosewild turkey
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"Wild-Goose Chase." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/wild-goose-chase_45136>.
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