beat the wind

beat the wind

To keep doing something despite its apparent pointlessness or futility. There's no way he'll get his progressive agenda through—he's just beating the wind.
See also: beat, wind
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • beat the air
  • be whistling in the wind
  • calculate on
  • calculate on (something)
  • good as (one's) word
  • good as one's word, as
  • of word
  • be a man/woman of his/her word
  • a beating
  • a kick at the cat
References in periodicals archive
We put a (concrete wall form) panel in this morning early, trying to beat the wind, and they were still wrestling with it pretty good; it's a tough day out there."
A 25-foot birdie putt at the last suggested the fine-tuning had done the trick as Reed beat the wind battering Sheshan International.
David George used feeder tackle to beat the wind on Willow Pool at Trefaldu Fishery and catch 30lb of roach, rudd and bream.
ERNIE ELS banged the drum for the over-forties last night and declared:"I've got all the skills to beat the wind and win the Open." Laid-back Ernie won the Open at Muirfield 10 years ago and has been runner-up twice at Lytham.
In the past, I've often found spots that look awesome, but they can't be hunted effectively because there are no trees that I can get high enough up in to beat the wind. That problem has always frustrated me, but I have managed to find some good spots where I can hunt a consistent wind.
Some competitors shoot very mild, extremely accurate loads and others shoot hot loads, trying to beat the wind. Modem hunters and varminters are caught up in the velocity game and think small bullets at extremely high velocities in both large- and small-bore cartridges are best.
All week Mickelson has been saying this inland course provides the preparation he needs for the links at Carnoustie because he's using the same low shots under the tree line to beat the wind.
Four incredibly high turbines, naked concrete and steel goliaths in all their soulless beauty, are intended for that mountain, designed to beat the wind in an endless exasperating whine.
Sonja Johnson, of the Healthy Living Network offers healthy food to beat the wind. Picture: Robin Bidgood
2 Beat the Wind Once you find a buck, analyze the wind.
SCOTLAND'S Stephen Gallagher beat the wind to bag seven birdies and a place near the top of the leaderboard in the Portuguese Open at Cascais yesterday.
In the Emergency Services League, just two games beat the wind and rain.
Dave Milliner used a feeder to beat the wind on Willow Pool and net 30lb of rudd, tench and carp.
TIM HENMAN beat the wind, rain and Greg Rusedski to storm into the third round of the Hamburg Masters yesterday.
Tony Wale was the angler and he caught his mixture of fish by fishing close in to beat the wind.