ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pound sand

idiom
Meaning

To engage in a simple, useless activity that anyone would reasonably know how to perform.


Origin

disputed origin

Of 19th-century origin. Used as an example both of an activity so simple that almost anyone could do it and of an activity so pointless that only a fool would do it.

Examples
SIMPLE

If he thinks I will help him, he can go pound sand.

CONTEXTUAL

When the rude customer demanded a refund for his own mistake, the manager told him to go pound sand.

COMPLEX

After the consultant offered yet another impractical solution, the frustrated director dismissed him and suggested he go pound sand.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a pound to a penny

    Very likely; almost certainly.

  2. 02

    an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure

    Precaution and prevention of an undesirable thing is preferable to dealing with its potential consequences.

  3. 03

    build on sand

    To put something in an unstable position by failing to give it a secure foundation.

  4. 04

    bury one's head in the sand

    To deliberately ignore the reality of a situation; to pretend a problem does not exist.

  5. 05

    line in the sand

    A defining moment; a cutoff point.

  6. 06

    merry-go-round

    [Cockney slang]pound

  7. 07

    penny wise and pound foolish

    Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful with large amounts.

  8. 08

    pound a beat

    Of a police officer, to walk a regular route.

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