Tilt at windmills
verb phrase
To fight or argue against enemies or problems that are imaginary or extremely unlikely.
He has always had a tendency to tilt at windmills, worrying about problems that do not exist.
Often appears as...
- tend to tilt at windmills
- always tilting at windmills
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To fight or argue against enemies or problems that are imaginary or extremely unlikely.
He has always had a tendency to tilt at windmills, worrying about problems that do not exist.
Often appears as...
- tend to tilt at windmills
- always tilting at windmills
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Literary Origin
The phrase comes from the novel 'Don Quixote' where the main character attacks windmills, mistaking them for giants.
In her speeches, she often tilts at windmills, like a modern-day Don Quixote.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphoric Use
Used metaphorically to speak about challenging nonexistent problems as if they were real or significant.
He's tilting at windmills by insisting on changing a policy that doesn't exist.
Pro Tip 3/3Futile Efforts
The phrase often implies that someone is wasting time and energy on a futile effort or conflict.
Arguing with him on that subject is just tilting at windmills; he'll never change his mind.
Pro Tip 1/3Literary Origin
The phrase comes from the novel 'Don Quixote' where the main character attacks windmills, mistaking them for giants.
In her speeches, she often tilts at windmills, like a modern-day Don Quixote.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphoric Use
Used metaphorically to speak about challenging nonexistent problems as if they were real or significant.
He's tilting at windmills by insisting on changing a policy that doesn't exist.
Pro Tip 3/3Futile Efforts
The phrase often implies that someone is wasting time and energy on a futile effort or conflict.
Arguing with him on that subject is just tilting at windmills; he'll never change his mind.
Pro Tip 1/3Literary Origin
The phrase comes from the novel 'Don Quixote' where the main character attacks windmills, mistaking them for giants.
In her speeches, she often tilts at windmills, like a modern-day Don Quixote.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphoric Use
Used metaphorically to speak about challenging nonexistent problems as if they were real or significant.
He's tilting at windmills by insisting on changing a policy that doesn't exist.
Pro Tip 3/3Futile Efforts
The phrase often implies that someone is wasting time and energy on a futile effort or conflict.
Arguing with him on that subject is just tilting at windmills; he'll never change his mind.
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