Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things just don’t work out—and that’s okay. We’ve all faced moments when our actions felt like drops in the ocean, and trying to explain that feeling can be tough. That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are powerful, expressive phrases that capture deep emotion in a relatable, human way. In this article, I’ll share 25 empathetic and meaningful idioms for futility, drawing from my own experiences as a writer and communicator, to help you express those moments when it seems nothing is working out.
Whether you’re writing a heartfelt message, supporting a friend, or simply trying to articulate your own feelings, these idioms will bring warmth and clarity to your words.
1. Beating a dead horse
Meaning: Continuing a pointless effort
In a sentence: Arguing about it again felt like beating a dead horse.
Best use: When revisiting an issue that’s clearly over.
Other ways to say: Rehashing, going in circles, flogging a dead horse
2. Pouring water into a sieve
Meaning: Making efforts that produce no results
In a sentence: Trying to get him to listen felt like pouring water into a sieve.
Best use: When your efforts are completely fruitless.
Other ways to say: A lost cause, all for nothing, futile effort
3. Spinning your wheels
Meaning: Putting in effort without progress
In a sentence: I spent weeks on the project, just spinning my wheels.
Best use: When progress is elusive despite trying.
Other ways to say: Getting nowhere, stuck in a rut
4. Chasing your tail
Meaning: Wasting energy on tasks that get you nowhere
In a sentence: With all the admin work, I felt like I was chasing my tail.
Best use: In busy but unproductive situations.
Other ways to say: Busywork, going in circles
5. A drop in the ocean
Meaning: A small effort in the face of a huge problem
In a sentence: My donation felt like a drop in the ocean.
Best use: When your contribution feels insignificant.
Other ways to say: A small dent, hardly noticeable
6. Banging your head against a brick wall
Meaning: Making no progress despite effort
In a sentence: Trying to change his mind is like banging my head against a wall.
Best use: When you’re frustrated by someone’s resistance.
Other ways to say: Hitting a wall, relentless effort without result
7. Like herding cats
Meaning: Trying to control the uncontrollable
In a sentence: Managing that team was like herding cats.
Best use: For chaotic, disorganized situations.
Other ways to say: Unmanageable, futile coordination
8. Carrying coals to Newcastle
Meaning: Doing something unnecessary
In a sentence: Giving tech tips to a developer felt like carrying coals to Newcastle.
Best use: When efforts are redundant.
Other ways to say: Preaching to the choir, overkill
9. Like trying to nail jelly to a wall
Meaning: Attempting something impossible
In a sentence: Getting clear answers was like trying to nail jelly to a wall.
Best use: For elusive or shifting challenges.
Other ways to say: Futile attempt, impossible task
10. Putting lipstick on a pig
Meaning: Trying to make something bad look good
In a sentence: That budget plan was just lipstick on a pig.
Best use: When efforts only disguise flaws.
Other ways to say: Window dressing, masking the problem
11. Pushing water uphill
Meaning: Doing something against all odds
In a sentence: Convincing them to change was like pushing water uphill.
Best use: When facing resistance at every turn.
Other ways to say: Fighting an uphill battle
12. Trying to catch smoke
Meaning: Chasing something intangible
In a sentence: Finding the original source felt like trying to catch smoke.
Best use: For vague or evasive pursuits.
Other ways to say: Grasping at straws, chasing shadows
13. Going round in circles
Meaning: Making no progress despite movement
In a sentence: The meeting was us just going round in circles.
Best use: For repetitive, unproductive discussions.
Other ways to say: Looping, no advancement
14. Flogging a dead horse
Meaning: Persisting in a lost cause
In a sentence: Pushing the idea further felt like flogging a dead horse.
Best use: For overdone, hopeless attempts.
Other ways to say: Beating a dead horse, pressing the issue
15. Trying to empty the ocean with a spoon
Meaning: A hopelessly inadequate effort
In a sentence: Fixing the system felt like trying to empty the ocean with a spoon.
Best use: When the scale of effort is too small
Other ways to say: Overwhelmed, impossible odds
16. Lighting a candle in the wind
Meaning: Making a fragile or short-lived effort
In a sentence: Her kindness felt like lighting a candle in the wind.
Best use: When compassion or hope feels fragile
Other ways to say: Fleeting act, delicate effort
17. Fighting a losing battle
Meaning: Persisting despite inevitable failure
In a sentence: Trying to reform that policy was a losing battle.
Best use: When you know the outcome is grim
Other ways to say: Doomed effort, battling odds
18. Climbing a greased pole
Meaning: Struggling against impossible odds
In a sentence: Advancing in that company was like climbing a greased pole.
Best use: When the system is stacked against you
Other ways to say: Impossible climb, slippery slope
19. Whistling in the wind
Meaning: Hoping without reason
In a sentence: Making those demands was like whistling in the wind.
Best use: When expectations are unrealistic
Other ways to say: Wishful thinking, talking to a wall
20. Talking to a brick wall
Meaning: Being ignored or unheard
In a sentence: Sharing my concerns felt like talking to a brick wall.
Best use: When communication is one-sided
Other ways to say: Not being listened to, unheard
21. Feeding the beast
Meaning: Giving in to an endless demand
In a sentence: Constantly replying to emails felt like feeding the beast.
Best use: For overwhelming, recurring tasks
Other ways to say: Fueling the fire, never-ending effort
22. Throwing good money after bad
Meaning: Investing more in a lost cause
In a sentence: Investing again would be throwing good money after bad.
Best use: For poor financial decisions
Other ways to say: Wasting resources, sunk cost fallacy
23. Like squeezing blood from a stone
Meaning: Trying to get something from an unwilling source
In a sentence: Getting him to apologize was like squeezing blood from a stone.
Best use: For stubbornness or scarcity
Other ways to say: Impossible ask, hard extraction
24. Burning daylight
Meaning: Wasting valuable time
In a sentence: Let’s stop burning daylight and get to work.
Best use: Encouraging urgency
Other ways to say: Wasting time, delaying
25. Throwing in the towel
Meaning: Giving up after trying
In a sentence: After years of trying, she finally threw in the towel.
Best use: When someone decides to let go
Other ways to say: Surrender, call it quits
Conclusion: Expressing Futility with Compassion
We all face times when we feel like we’re pushing boulders uphill or shouting into the void. But expressing these moments with the right words can offer both clarity and comfort. These 25 idioms for futility allow us to connect with others, to share our frustrations without bitterness, and to validate our experiences in an emotionally intelligent way.
I’ve personally leaned on many of these idioms when writing letters, journal entries, and heartfelt conversations. Language has this beautiful way of softening pain, and idioms—colorful, vivid, human—make that possible. Use them with warmth. Use them with care. Because sometimes, just naming the feeling makes it a little more bearable.
