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.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I am just chasing my tail with all this housework.”
“You are just chasing your tail by replying to every single spam email.”
“She chases her tail every day because she does not use a calendar.”
“Without a clear plan for the project, the team spent all week chasing their tails and finished nothing.”
“I spent the entire morning chasing my tail trying to find that missing invoice before realizing I never actually printed it.”
“The store manager was chasing his tail all day because three employees called in sick during the busiest holiday sale.”
“Instead of fixing the engine, the mechanic kept chasing his tail by replacing small parts that were not even broken.”
“Despite his frantic efforts to organize the chaotic filing system, he felt as though he were merely chasing his tail, achieving no real progress by the end of the day.”
disputed origin
From obsessive behavior observed in some dogs. The figurative sense refers to the frenzied activity without any useful purpose inherent in this behavior
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026