fool's errand
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It makes it a fool’s errand to be able to predict because it’s less about logic and more about negotiation tactics.”
From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026
Predicting when a bubble is finally about to burst could be a fool’s errand.
From Barron's • Dec. 30, 2025
Trying to explain journalistic ethics to a lifelong criminal was probably a fool’s errand, but I still tried.
From Slate • Dec. 1, 2025
On a normal cruise out of Florida, finding a free chair with a view of the ocean can be a fool’s errand, unless you’re willing to get up at daybreak.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025
Sometimes they are victims of professional narcissism and write as if the reader were interested in every blind alley, fool’s errand, and wild-goose chase they engaged in while exploring the topic.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
