Phrase guide

fool's errand

noun · 3 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

noun

Meaning 1

A foolish undertaking, especially one that is purposeless, fruitless, nonsensical, or certain to fail.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: idiot's errand, lost errand, sleeveless errand, wild-goose chase

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Such an undertaking, assigned as a prank.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Meronyms: blinker fluid, key to the midway, left-handed monkey wrench, muffler bearing, skyhook
  • Near-synonym: wild-goose chase

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snipe hunt, wild-goose chase

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a fruitless mission

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mission, charge, commission

History

Etymology

First use apppears c. the 18th century.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: работа на вятъра (rabota na vjatǎra) — foolish undertaking
  • Finnish: hullun homma — foolish undertaking
  • Finnish: hullutus — foolish undertaking
  • German: vergebliche Mühe — foolish undertaking
  • German: Metzgergang — foolish undertaking
  • Hebrew: ברכה לבטלה — foolish undertaking
  • Hebrew: משימה שנידונה לכישלון — foolish undertaking
  • Hebrew: משימה אבודה מראש — foolish undertaking
  • Italian: compito da pazzi — foolish undertaking
  • Italian: follia — foolish undertaking
  • Italian: impresa folle — foolish undertaking
  • Japanese: 骨折り損 (honeorizon) — foolish undertaking
  • Japanese: むだ足 (mudaashi) — foolish undertaking
  • Polish: próżny wysiłek — foolish undertaking
  • Portuguese: caça aos gambozinos — foolish undertaking
  • Spanish: misión imposible — foolish undertaking
  • Spanish: tarea de tontos — foolish undertaking
  • Spanish: recado de necios — foolish undertaking
  • Turkish: abesle iştigal — foolish undertaking
  • Turkish: boş iş — foolish undertaking
  • Turkish: abesle uğraşmak — foolish undertaking
  • Welsh: siwrnai f seithug — foolish undertaking