wild-goose chase
a useless activity or enterprise
TRANSLATION
eine aussichtslose Verfolgung
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"Panama has always said they are glad to cooperate in combating illegal activities, money laundering, etc. However, they have also said they are very much opposed to a WILD-GOOSE CHASE against US taxpayers. Simply because the US is concerned about tax evasion, that this is no reason to throw banking confidentiality out the window."
(Editor's Letter - Ascot Advisory Services - October 2002)
Did you
know?
Did you know?
Why is a useless enterprise called a "wild-goose chase"?
This was originally a term for a sporting event such as a horse race in which the following horses followed exactly the course of the leader, like a flight of wild geese.
By the late-sixteenth century, the phrase meant someone leading others on an impulsive course of action.
Eventually, "wild-goose chase" came to describe any silly or hopeless quest, reinforced by the idea that wild geese are difficult to catch.
