ENGLISH
REFERENCE

howl at the moon

idiom
Meaning

To spend considerable time and effort fruitlessly in a hopeless endeavor.


Origin

disputed origin

After the stereotypical behaviour of wolves howling at the moon in folklore.

Examples
SIMPLE

Complaining about the weather is just howling at the moon.

CONTEXTUAL

He spent years trying to change the company policy, but he was just howling at the moon.

COMPLEX

The activist realized that protesting against the inevitable tide of progress was merely howling at the moon.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    ask for the moon

    To claim or desire something that one cannot have.

  2. 02

    blue moon

    A long time.

  3. 03

    hang the moon

    To place the moon in the sky: used as an example of a superlative act attributed to someone viewed with uncritical or excessive awe, reverence, or infatuation.

  4. 04

    once in a blue moon

    Very rarely; very infrequently.

  5. 05

    see the dark side of the moon

    To do or experience something exceedingly difficult or rare.

  6. 06

    the moon on a stick

    All that one could desire, especially as an unreasonable demand; everything.

  7. 07

    think one hung the moon

    To consider or think of someone to be extraordinary or exceptional.

  8. 08

    to the moon and back

    Immensely.

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