# preach in the desert

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/preach-in-the-desert
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To speak to or persuade a nearly nonexistent audience, or to an audience not listening.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.