Phrase guide

bang one's head against a brick wall

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To waste effort on a futile project.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: бия си главата в стената (bija si glavata v stenata) — to waste effort on a futile project
  • Finnish: hakata päätään seinään — to waste effort on a futile project
  • French: perdre son temps — to waste effort on a futile project
  • Italian: sbattere la testa contro un muro — to waste effort on a futile project
  • Polish: walić głową w mur — to waste effort on a futile project
  • Polish: walić głową w ścianę — to waste effort on a futile project