# bang one's head against a brick wall

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bang-ones-head-against-a-brick-wall
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To waste effort on a futile project.

## Examples

- I am banging my head against a brick wall trying to fix this.
- He spent all day explaining the new rules, but he felt like he was banging his head against a brick wall.
- After weeks of banging his head against a brick wall to convince the committee, he finally accepted that his proposal would never receive their approval.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.