“白费力气”几个生动有趣的英语表达！



goose chase

有一个短语是“a wild goose chase”字面意思理解是“（很难）追上一群野鹅”，表示“无益的追求”，很容易让人想到谚语“竹篮打水一场空”，表示忙活半天，最后一无所获。

The reporter was sent on a wild goose chase, for the man he was to interview had never really existed.

这名记者被派出去无意义的乱跑，因为他要访问的人根本不存在。



Beat a dead horse

鞭打一匹死马让其奔跑，表示白费力气

Quit asking him to do you a favor. You're beating a dead horse.别再求他帮你忙了，你这是白费劲



all my effort went down the drain

drain排水，下水道，排水管，消耗，我所有的努力都进入下水道了，表示白费了。

A：Allmyeffort went downthedrain.

我的努力全白费了。

B：That’s too bad.

那太糟糕了

spin one's wheels

字面意思是旋转某人的轮椅，发挥一下疯狂的想象就是旋转轮椅，原地不动，表示丝毫没有进展，也就是白费力气

You are just spinning your wheels trying to get a raise;the boss is a tightwad.

老板是个吝啬鬼，你想让他涨工资无益是做无用功



a waste of effort

waste表示浪费，浪费努力，也就是白费力气。

Awrong approach means a waste of effort.

路子不对等于白费劲儿。