fool's errand: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, occasionally formal in figurative use.
Quick answer
What does “fool's errand” mean?
A pointless or futile task.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pointless or futile task; a useless undertaking.
A mission or task that is doomed to failure from the outset, often because its goal is impossible, based on false information, or a waste of time and effort.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling of 'errand' is consistent.
Connotations
Identical connotations of pointlessness and wasted effort in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and well-understood in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “fool's errand” in a Sentence
to send someone on a fool's errandto be a fool's errandto embark on a fool's errandVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fool's errand” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manager was fool's-erranded by the client's vague brief. (Very rare, informal creative use)
adjective
American English
- He was given a fool's-errand assignment. (Hyphenated attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to criticise projects that lack clear objectives or are based on unrealistic assumptions.
Academic
Used metaphorically in criticism of research directions perceived as theoretically bankrupt.
Everyday
Common for describing any frustrating and pointless chore or search.
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts; used in project management informally.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fool's errand”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fool's errand”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fool's errand”
- Writing 'fools errand' (missing apostrophe). Using it as a plural ('fools' errands') is rare. Confusing it with 'errand boy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. It implies the *task itself* is foolish. The person doing it may be an unwitting participant sent by someone else.
Yes, but typically in a figurative or critical sense, e.g., 'The investigation proved to be a legislative fool's errand.'
They are very close synonyms. A 'wild goose chase' often emphasises a chaotic, lengthy pursuit, while a 'fool's errand' emphasises the inherent pointlessness of the task from the start.
Yes. 'Fool's errand' means 'an errand for/of a fool'. 'Fools errand' (without the apostrophe) is incorrect.
A pointless or futile task.
Fool's errand: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfuːlz ˈɛr.ənd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfuːlz ˈer.ənd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A wild goose chase (near-synonym)”
- “A snipe hunt (AmE, regional synonym)”
- “A thankless task (overlap in concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a medieval king sending his court jester (the fool) to find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The task is the 'fool's errand' – silly and impossible.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / TASKS ARE JOURNEYS (a futile task is a journey led by a fool).
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best describes a 'fool's errand'?