Phrase guide
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
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verb
To do something pointless or insignificant that will soon be overtaken by events, or that contributes nothing to the solution of a current problem.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: move the deckchairs on the Titanic, shift the deckchairs on the Titanic, shuffle the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, shuffle the deckchairs on the Titanic
Antonyms: none provided
History
The Titanic was an ocean liner that sank on the morning of April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg. The phrase rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic implies trying to move the chairs on the deck around while the ship is sinking, a pointless activity.
