A wild goose chase
/ə waɪld ɡuːs tʃeɪs/informal, neutralUK · US
What does “A wild goose chase” mean?
A wild goose chase means a long search that leads nowhere.
A wild goose chase is defined by its outcome: effort spent, nothing found. It often follows misleading directions.
The phrase frequently appears with "send someone on".
When do people say it?
Used about wasted effort caused by bad information.
“The address was wrong and we spent the afternoon on a wild goose chase.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal, neutral. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
Used by Shakespeare, originally describing a kind of horse race.
Origin confidence: Well documented
How do you say “A wild goose chase” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Barking up the wrong tree, To be completely mistaken.
- Miss the boat, To be too late for an opportunity.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11