preach in the desert
To speak to or persuade a nearly nonexistent audience, or to an audience not listening.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Giving advice to that stubborn man is like preaching in the desert.”
“The activist tried to warn the crowd about the risks, but he felt like he was preaching in the desert.”
“The professor realized that explaining the nuances of the theory to such an uninterested audience was merely preaching in the desert.”
- 01
preach to deaf ears
To attempt to persuade a party that does not wish to listen or cannot be altered in its conviction.
- 02
preach to the choir
To speak as if to convince a person or group of something they already believe.
- 03
preach water and drink wine
To act hypocritically; to fail to practice what one preaches.
Last updated August 10, 2026