goat's wool
Definition
Noun: - A non-existent object: "goat's wool" is a figurative term referring to something that does not exist or is impossible to obtain, often used to describe a mythical or fantastical thing.
Usage Examples
- (He promised to find something that does not exist, making the task impossible.)
- (The search is futile because the object is imaginary.)
Advanced Usage
- "to chase goat's wool": to pursue something that is impossible or illusory.
- The inventor spent years chasing goat's wool instead of focusing on practical designs. (He wasted time on an impossible goal.)
Variants and Related Words
- Goat's wool (idiomatic phrase): no direct variants exist; the term is used as a fixed expression.
Synonyms
- Wild goose chase: a futile search for something that is impossible to find.
- Pie in the sky: an unrealistic or impossible hope or plan.
- Chimera: something that is hoped for but is impossible to achieve.
Related Idioms
To look for a needle in a haystack: to search for something that is extremely difficult to find.
- Trying to find a trustworthy politician is like looking for a needle in a haystack — or goat's wool. (Both are nearly impossible tasks.)
To sell someone a bill of goods: to deceive someone by promising something that does not exist.
- The salesman was selling goat's wool when he claimed the car would never break down. (He made a false promise.)