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. 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.
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. For example, if someone spends hours searching for their lost keys in an area where they know they did not misplace them, they are engaging in a wild goose chase. the origin of “wild goose chase” the exact origin of this idiom is unclear, but it dates back to at least the 16th century when hunting was a popular pastime among english nobility. Wild goose chase meaning. the idiom "wild goose chase" refers to a task or activity that is fruitless, pointless or a waste of time. it is often used to describe an endeavor that involves searching for something that is unlikely to be found or achieving a goal that is unattainable. 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.
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