rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic
To do something pointless or insignificant that will soon be overtaken by events, or that contributes nothing to the solution of a current problem.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Fixing the printer is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
“The company is failing, so changing the office furniture is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
“Editing the font size on a project that the client already cancelled feels like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
“The couple tried to save their marriage by buying new curtains, but they were just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
“The store is closing next week, so cleaning the windows now feels like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
“By focusing on minor policy adjustments while the entire economic system collapses, the government is merely rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
first recorded 20th c.
The Titanic was an ocean liner that sank on the morning of April 15, 1912 after striking an iceberg. The phrase rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic implies trying to move the chairs on the deck around while the ship is sinking, a pointless activity.
- 01
fall off one's chair
To experience a strong reaction of surprise, shock or disbelief.
- 02
few cards shy of a full deck
Mentally deranged; demented; insane.
- 03
give someone the chair
To sentence a person to execution by means of the electric chair.
- 04
play with a full deck
To behave in a manner suggesting that one is of normal intelligence, alert, and mentally stable.
- 05
sweep the deck
To clear off all the stakes on the table by winning them.
Last updated August 10, 2026