phrase requests - An idiom meaning someone's doing something useless and has no result at the end


In my native language, we use an idiom to warn someone that they're doing something which has no result at the end:



Trying to convince him is like squashing water ...



Is there any idiom in English with the same meaning?



Answer



There are a few idioms like that. One is:



You're just beating your head against the wall.



another is



Like trying to squeeze blood from a turnip.



and another is:



It's like trying to herd cats.



They each are used is slightly different situations. To be most analogous to your expression it sounds like I'd use the first one: Trying to convince him is like beating your head against the wall


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