fool's errand

noun

: a needless or profitless endeavor

"No, no. You forced me into visiting him last year, and promised, if I went to see him, he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in nothing, and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again."

—Jane Austen

Predicting what will happen with China is a fool's errand. China is the exception that proves so many rules wrong.

—John Feffer

While trying to change European opinion of America is not exactly a fool's errand, neither should we expect much from the effort.

—James W. Ceaser

Examples of fool's errand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Making predictions before prospects even begin their final seasons, then, is inherently a fool's errand. —Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2023

Drawing grand conclusions from 13 games is a fool's errand, especially with this team. —Michael Shapiro, Chron, 13 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1629, in the meaning defined above