wild goose chase

wild goose chase {n. phr.}

An absurd and completely futile errand.

I was on a wild goose chase when I was sent to find a man who never really existed.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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goose

[goose] See: [COOK ONE'S GOOSE], [FOX AND GEESE], [KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG], [GONE GOOSE]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

run wild

[run wild] {v. phr.} To be or go out of control. * /The students ran wild during spring vacation./ * /The new supervisor lets the children run wild./ * /The […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

chase

[chase] See: [GIVE CHASE], [GO CHASE ONESELF], [LEAD A MERRY CHASE]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

goose bumps

[goose bumps] or [goose pimples] {n. plural}, {informal} Small bumps that come on a person's skin when he gets cold or afraid. * /Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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