chase a rainbow
To pursue something illusory, impractical, or impossible.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't chase a rainbow by trying to win that rigged game.”
“He spent years trying to become a famous actor, but his family worried he was just chasing a rainbow.”
“By investing his entire inheritance into an unproven technology, he was merely chasing a rainbow that would never yield a return.”
- 01
chase after
To pursue someone with romantic intentions; to woo.
- 02
chase away
To get rid of.
- 03
chase off
To drive someone or something away.
- 04
chase one's tail
To busily try to perform many tasks or to repeatedly revise one's plans, especially with inefficient use of one's time and limited results.
- 05
chase rainbows
To pursue unrealistic or fanciful goals.
- 06
chase tail
To be on the hunt for a (usually sexual) partner.
- 07
chase the dragon
To chase after the promise of a continually fulfilling high from an addictive substance.
- 08
cut to the chase
To get to the point; to get on with it; to state something directly.
Last updated August 10, 2026