To "send a wild goose chase" is an idiomatic expression referring to the act of directing or leading someone on a futile, pointless, or fruitless pursuit or task. It implies that the person has been deceived, misled, or given false instructions, causing them to engage in a pointless endeavor that ultimately leads nowhere.
The phrase originates from the ancient hunting practice of sending a trained goose to locate and retrieve wild geese. The trained goose would be released and the hunter would follow its erratic path, often chasing after it for extended periods of time. However, since wild geese are notoriously difficult to catch and follow, this pursuit would often prove to be futile and unproductive.
Symbolically, "send a wild goose chase" came to represent situations where someone is deliberately sent on a mission that is deceptive, confusing, or unattainable. The expression carries a sense of frustration, foolishness, and wasted effort, as the person is led on a long and winding pursuit that ends in disappointment or failure.
The phrase is typically used to describe scenarios in which someone is deliberately misled or given false information, leading them to a dead end or an elusive target. It implies a sense of trickery or manipulative behavior, where someone intentionally creates confusion or inconvenience for another person by setting them on a wild goose chase.
