wild-goose chase

People might well have argued that it was a waste of money to send Christopher Columbus on a wild goose chase.

"If you tell me to I s'pose I must, but I think it's a wild-goose chase anyhow," was the disapproving answer.

"I like him well enough to go on a wild-goose chase in search of him," the lady replied.

Miss Waller instantly denounced the scheme as a wild-goose chase, asserting that May was certain to lose her way.

In another minute he'd be on his way to a strange sun and a strange world, on what might well be the wild-goose chase of all time.

But nothing could be heard at first, and Mr. Blowitt again intimated that they were engaged in a "wild-goose chase."