# Idioms relating to things impossible, inadvisable or otherwise to be avoided. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 30, 2008, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119 "2008-05-30T10:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/21 "2008-05-30T15:09:39Z")
One of the funniest I ever heard: (Doing something quite dangerous) is like wirebrushing a wildcat’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/22 "2008-05-30T15:14:25Z")
Trying to come up with one of these would be like sending coal to Newcastle. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/23 "2008-05-30T15:26:36Z")
[QUOTE=MHaye] Trying to come up with one of these would be like sending coal to Newcastle. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure you used that right. Or maybe I misjudged your opinion of the OP. “Coals to Newcastle” is meant to signify something that could be done but would be pointless, not something difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/24 "2008-05-30T15:28:14Z")
That’s OK - futility is just as good, for my purposes… Indeed, some of the more extreme examples (sliding down a razor blade), although they certainly belong in this thread, can’t be used for my master plan… ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/25 "2008-05-30T15:30:32Z")
Aren’t we just burning down the house to kill a flea here? ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/26 "2008-05-30T15:53:37Z")
It’s OK to come up with a comprehensive list of these, but don’t boil the ocean. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/27 "2008-05-30T15:56:20Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Ah, but that’s the opposite of what I want - taking candy from a baby is _easy_ - unlike, say, selling ice to Eskimos. [/QUOTE] You never tried to take anything from a baby, have you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/28 "2008-05-30T15:57:51Z")
Then there’s the ever-popular “screen door on a submarine.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/29 "2008-05-30T16:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Oooh, I just thought of one: You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. [/QUOTE] (They actually did this, once, if synthetic silk counts. And you allow more than one sow’s ear.) A personal idiom of mine, when confronted with an example of fairly senseless consumerism or capitalism; “Eh, at least it beats standing in line for turnips, comrade.” ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/30 "2008-05-30T16:17:32Z")
Adding to this thread is like carrying owls to Athens ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/31 "2008-05-30T16:29:29Z")
This is as useful as shooting at the moon. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/32 "2008-05-30T16:30:34Z")
And as effective as whistling in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/33 "2008-05-30T16:36:58Z")
You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, You don’t spit into the wind, You don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger, And you don’t mess around with Jim. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/34 "2008-05-30T16:39:05Z")
This thread can go f\*\*k itself. (Right? If I’ve misunderstood the OP, I’ll be mortified) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/35 "2008-05-30T17:51:18Z")
Don’t waste your time polishing these turds. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/36 "2008-05-30T19:39:48Z")
Don’t try to teach your grandpa to suck eggs. Don’t spit into the wind. It’s like sliding down the razor blade of life. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/37 "2008-05-30T19:55:41Z")
[QUOTE=Wargamer] Don’t spit into the wind. [/QUOTE] Song. Head. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/38 "2008-05-30T19:57:06Z")
35 replies already? You guys are lined up asshole to elbow in here! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/39 "2008-05-30T20:03:45Z")
Like pushing a car uphill with a rope. Like sucking a bowling ball through a straw. ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119/40 "2008-05-30T21:02:37Z")
I can’t think of any other ones. Any others that I would add would be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic or putting lipstick on a pig. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-relating-to-things-impossible-inadvisable-or-otherwise-to-be-avoided/451119.md?page=3)