Sometimes things don’t work the way they should. Maybe a pen runs out of ink, or a plan doesn’t help at all. When something doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, we might call it useless. But instead of just saying “It’s useless,” people often use idioms. Idioms are fun phrases that say more than their words alone.
In this article, we’ll learn idioms that describe when something has no purpose or isn’t helpful. These expressions are great for talking about broken tools, silly ideas, or things that just don’t work. Idioms like these can help you explain those times when something is just a waste of time or effort.
Idioms for Useless
1. Not worth a dime
Meaning: Completely without value.
Samples: That broken toy isn’t worth a dime. / This old phone isn’t worth a dime anymore.
To Put it Another Way: It has no value. / It’s not useful anymore.
2. Dead in the water
Meaning: Not working or likely to succeed.
Samples: Our plan was dead in the water after the power went out. / His idea was dead in the water from the start.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t work. / It had no chance.
3. A waste of space
Meaning: Taking up room but doing nothing helpful.
Samples: That broken chair is just a waste of space. / This old computer is a waste of space now.
To Put it Another Way: It’s useless. / It just sits there.
4. A drop in the ocean
Meaning: Too small to make a difference.
Samples: One book won’t fix the empty library it’s just a drop in the ocean. / Her small help was a drop in the ocean.
To Put it Another Way: It doesn’t help much. / It’s too little.
5. Like a fifth wheel
Meaning: Extra and not needed.
Samples: I felt like a fifth wheel at the party. / That app is like a fifth wheel we don’t need it.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t belong. / It wasn’t needed.
6. No use crying over spilled milk
Meaning: There’s no point in feeling bad about something that can’t be changed.
Samples: The game is over no use crying over spilled milk. / She forgot her project, but it’s no use crying over spilled milk.
To Put it Another Way: It’s too late to fix it. / Don’t waste energy being upset.
7. Like talking to a wall
Meaning: Saying something but not being heard or listened to.
Samples: Trying to explain it to him was like talking to a wall. / She doesn’t listen it’s like talking to a wall.
To Put it Another Way: No one listened. / It made no difference.
8. A flash in the pan
Meaning: Something that looks good at first but quickly fails.
Samples: That idea was just a flash in the pan. / His joke was a flash in the pan funny for a second, then gone.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t last. / It faded fast.
9. A wild goose chase
Meaning: A useless or pointless search.
Samples: Looking for that book without the title was a wild goose chase. / We went on a wild goose chase for the lost toy.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t lead anywhere. / It was a waste of time.
10. Like pouring water into a sieve
Meaning: Effort that is wasted or doesn’t last.
Samples: Teaching him math today was like pouring water into a sieve. / Fixing that leaky bucket felt like pouring water into a sieve.
To Put it Another Way: The work didn’t help. / Everything kept slipping away.
11. Not worth a hill of beans
Meaning: Of no real value or importance.
Samples: That excuse isn’t worth a hill of beans. / His promise is not worth a hill of beans.
To Put it Another Way: It doesn’t matter. / It’s not important.
12. A dead end
Meaning: Something that leads nowhere or has no result.
Samples: That plan was a dead end. / We hit a dead end in our search.
To Put it Another Way: It went nowhere. / It didn’t help.
13. Run around in circles
Meaning: Doing a lot but getting nowhere.
Samples: We were running around in circles trying to solve the puzzle. / I ran around in circles all morning.
To Put it Another Way: We wasted time. / Nothing got done.
14. Be in vain
Meaning: Without success or result.
Samples: His effort was in vain. / I worked hard, but it was all in vain.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t work out. / The result was nothing.
15. Like beating a dead horse
Meaning: Trying to fix something that won’t change.
Samples: Telling him again is like beating a dead horse. / Talking about it now is like beating a dead horse.
To Put it Another Way: It’s pointless. / It won’t help.
16. Go down the drain
Meaning: Wasted effort or money.
Samples: All that hard work went down the drain. / The money we spent went down the drain.
To Put it Another Way: It was wasted. / Nothing came from it.
17. Not cut out for it
Meaning: Not suited or good for the job or task.
Samples: He’s not cut out for acting. / I’m not cut out for chess.
To Put it Another Way: It’s not the right fit. / It doesn’t work well.
18. A hollow promise
Meaning: A promise with no real meaning.
Samples: That was just a hollow promise. / Don’t believe hollow promises.
To Put it Another Way: It won’t happen. / It’s empty words.
19. Go nowhere fast
Meaning: Making no progress.
Samples: We’re going nowhere fast on this project. / That idea is going nowhere fast.
To Put it Another Way: We’re stuck. / Nothing is happening.
20. Like a wet blanket
Meaning: Someone or something that ruins the fun or has no energy.
Samples: That rule is like a wet blanket. / He was being a wet blanket at the party.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t help. / It ruined the mood.
21. Of no consequence
Meaning: Not important or helpful.
Samples: That step was of no consequence. / The mistake was of no consequence.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t matter. / It made no difference.
22. A waste of breath
Meaning: Talking or trying with no result.
Samples: Arguing was a waste of breath. / It’s a waste of breath to ask him again.
To Put it Another Way: It won’t work. / No point in trying.
23. Not hold water
Meaning: Not true or believable.
Samples: His excuse doesn’t hold water. / That story doesn’t hold water.
To Put it Another Way: It’s not believable. / It makes no sense.
24. Spinning your wheels
Meaning: Using effort but getting no result.
Samples: We’re just spinning our wheels on this project. / I was spinning my wheels all day.
To Put it Another Way: We’re stuck. / Nothing’s getting done.
25. Come to nothing
Meaning: End without success.
Samples: All that work came to nothing. / The meeting came to nothing.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t work out. / Nothing changed.
26. As useful as a screen door on a submarine
Meaning: Totally useless.
Samples: That tool is as useful as a screen door on a submarine. / This book is as useful as a screen door on a submarine for this project.
To Put it Another Way: It’s no help at all. / It doesn’t belong.
27. Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: Wasting effort on the wrong thing.
Samples: He’s barking up the wrong tree blaming her. / We’re barking up the wrong tree with that idea.
To Put it Another Way: That’s not the problem. / It’s not the right way.
28. Empty words
Meaning: Promises or talk with no action.
Samples: Those were just empty words. / Don’t trust empty words.
To Put it Another Way: It means nothing. / It’s not real.
29. Out of gas
Meaning: Having no more energy or usefulness.
Samples: That idea is out of gas. / I’m out of gas after all that work.
To Put it Another Way: It’s done. / It can’t go any further.
30. Not pull your weight
Meaning: Not helping or doing your part.
Samples: He’s not pulling his weight on the team. / She didn’t pull her weight during the group work.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t help. / She didn’t do her share.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Useless
Reading Passage: “The Robot That Couldn’t”
For the school science fair, Ben and Ava made a robot that was supposed to hand out snacks. But during the big test, the robot just beeped and stood still. “This thing is dead in the water,” said Ben. Ava sighed, “We’re running around in circles trying to fix it.”
They tried to reboot the system, but it didn’t help. “It’s like pouring water into a sieve,” Ava said. “Let’s face it this project is going nowhere fast.” Ben looked at the blinking lights. “We’ve put in hours, but it might all come to nothing.”
Their classmate Mia walked by. “That robot looks cool, but right now it’s just a waste of space.” Ben laughed, “Yeah, and I feel like we’ve been on a wild goose chase the whole week.”
Just before the fair ended, Ava said, “We have to try. I don’t want our work to be in vain.” Ben nodded, even though he was starting to feel out of gas.
Your Task:
Can you find and list all 8 idioms for being useless in the story?
Answer Key
- Dead in the water
- Running around in circles
- Pouring water into a sieve
- Going nowhere fast
- Come to nothing
- Waste of space
- Wild goose chase
- In vain
- Out of gas
Conclusion
Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we want. Plans fail, tools break, and ideas don’t lead anywhere. Idioms like “dead in the water” or “waste of space” help us talk about these moments in a clear and colorful way.
Learning idioms for useless things can help you express frustration or explain when something didn’t work. These expressions are short, but they say a lot. Try using them when something just doesn’t do its job or isn’t worth the effort.
