tilt at windmills

idiom

British

: to use time and energy to attack an enemy or problem that is not real or important

Examples of tilt at windmills in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The good news is, while the antivaxxers tilt at windmills, there are scientists out there trying to find out the roots of autism. —

Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2010

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tilt at windmills.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilt%20at%20windmills. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation