Flogging a dead horse
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Wasting effort on a hopeless cause or overdone topic, beating at something lifeless with no chance of response.
Origin
From 19th-century Britain, tied to sailors paid in advance; 'dead horse' wages-flogged out in song for a month's work already spent. An 1867 parliamentary debate used 'flogging a dead horse' for a stalled bill, blending nautical slang with equestrian grimness. It reflects Victorian fatigue with inefficiency, growing from maritime grit into a sharp jab at stubborn waste, popularized by political satire.
Usage Examples
- Arguing with him is flogging a dead horse; he won't budge.
- She's flogging a dead horse trying to fix that old car.
- Reviving that plan is just flogging a dead horse; let it go.
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