The phrase’s origin, in reality, has nothing to do with wild geese or chasing them. the origin of the idiom ‘wild goose chase’ is rooted in an old form of horse race called ‘wild goose chase.’. the race involved several horses racing behind the main lead rider at a predetermined distance. the race more or less resembled the formation. Wild goose chase definition: 1. a search that is completely unsuccessful and a waste of time because the person or thing being…. learn more.
A ‘wild goose chase’ was a race in which horses followed a lead horse at a set distance, mimicking wild geese flying in formation. the equine connection was referred to a few years before shakespeare’s usage, in gervase markham’s equestrian instructional manual a discource of horsmanshippe, 1593. markham describes the rules of the race. Definition of wild goose chase in the idioms dictionary. wild goose chase phrase. what does wild goose chase expression mean? definitions by the largest idiom dictionary. A “wild goose chase” was a race in which horses followed a lead horse at a set distance, that looked like wild geese flying in formation. gervase markham published an equestrian instructional manual: a discourse of horsmanshippe, in 1593, shortly before shakespeare wrote romeo and juliet, in which he described the rules of the race. The meaning of wild goose chase is a complicated or lengthy and usually fruitless pursuit or search. how to use wild goose chase in a sentence.
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