push against an open door
To do something pointless or unnecessary; to try doing something already done.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You are pushing against an open door by suggesting that plan.”
“The manager already agreed with the new policy, so you are just pushing against an open door.”
“By arguing for reforms that the board had already approved, the activist was merely pushing against an open door.”
- 01
bang down the door
To present oneself as a strong candidate for a role or achievement, explicitly or implicitly.
- 02
blow the doors off
To be much more important or impressive than.
- 03
close the stable door after the horse has bolted
To attempt to prevent a problem that has already occurred; to design and implement a preventive mechanism that is too late (after the first failure instead of before).
- 04
darken a church door
To go to church to attend a service.
- 05
darken someone's door
To arrive at someone's residence or location, especially as an unexpected visitor.
- 06
don't let the door hit you on the way out
Used as a command to leave in haste, or to indicate that one is glad, or at least unmoved, to see the addressed person leaving.
- 07
get one's foot in the door
To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job.
- 08
get the door
To open a door to help another person to pass through.
Last updated August 10, 2026