flog a dead horse

Meaning

To waste time, energy, or effort trying to do something that has already failed, cannot be changed, or has no chance of succeeding. It is often used in business to advise against pursuing hopeless strategies.

Examples

• We've spent three months on this marketing campaign, but it's just flogging a dead horse at this point.

  We've spent three months on this marketing campaign, but it's just flogging a dead horse at this point.

• There is no point flogging a dead horse; the client has already signed with our competitor.

  There is no point flogging a dead horse; the client has already signed with our competitor.

• I know you want to revise the proposal, but I feel like we're just flogging a dead horse.

  I know you want to revise the proposal, but I feel like we're just flogging a dead horse.

• Trying to convince him to change his mind is like flogging a dead horse.

  Trying to convince him to change his mind is like flogging a dead horse.

• Let's not flog a dead horse; let's pivot and focus on our new product line instead.

  Let's not flog a dead horse; let's pivot and focus on our new product line instead.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Don't flog the dead horse.

  ✓ Don't flog a dead horse.

  The idiom typically uses the indefinite article 'a' rather than the definite article 'the'.

• ✗ He is flogging dead horses.

  ✓ He is flogging a dead horse.

  Keep the noun phrase singular ('a dead horse') even if you are talking about multiple failed attempts.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The board already rejected the proposal twice, so trying to pitch it again is just ___.

  💡 Wasting effort on a hopeless cause (use the -ing form).

  Show answer

  flogging a dead horse

• I hate to ___, but we really need to accept that this project is a failure.

  💡 To waste energy on something that is already decided or finished.

  Show answer

  flog a dead horse