I am looking for an idiom or phrase that describes, in a humorous or funny way, the act of looking for something that probably isnt't there, or the act of looking for a solution in a place where it is not likely to be found.
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I'm trying to find a word or short phrase that would describe chasing something that doesn't exist. My restriction is that it can't be referencing something that would only make sense in our world (things like "chasing the white whale" as it's a reference to Moby Dick) I'm writing a book that does not take place on earth. So referencing our literature, specific places on earth, or specific cultures on earth don't really work well with the setting. I'll be taking a look at worldbuilding.stackexchange.com as well, but for reference for those who comment or come back to view this question. The world the story takes place in is similar to earth in regards to atmosphere, environments, and natural phenomenon. Things like "chasing the rainbow" would work. As for context in how I'm trying to use this. Two people are having a tense conversation. Person 1 is attempting to convince Person 2 to join a group that has made person 1 very idealistic promises. Person 2's reply is “You paint a pretty picture, but it’s one drenched in the blood and death of every nation. You use to be so smart, so tactful, now you’re nothing but a fool chasing after a _______________.”
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Take an example:  Me : Where can I find the best pizza in the city?   Friend:1000s of people are dying of hunger and all you care about best pizza.  In this case he does reply to my question but it doesn't help me.  Is there a word/group of words to express this?
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For example,  A: - Look! There is a centipede on the table!  B: - (interjection)!
45027
Is there a witty turn of phrase that indicates one's performing an act that, in its doing, undermines, contravenes, or obviates itself?    relates to a similar idea, but I have it in my mind that there is a saying that describes this state of affairs. "Cutting off one's nose to spite one's face" is not quite what I'm going for because the act of cutting off the nose doesn't negate itself. I'm thinking more of a line speaking about someone who breaks the speed limit on his way to defend himself in traffic court, or wiping off a table with a dirty sponge.
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In my native language we have lots of ways (some of them very funny) of saying that you, or someone else didn't understand a joke right away. That is, he/she needed some time to figure it out.  I wonder if there's any idiomatic way of expressing that in English.
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The above phrase is something I've known for as long as I can remember, though I don't know from where. What is its origin and usage? Example: &quot;While Android products aren't quite what I need, iOS devices fit my needs to a T.&quot;
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There are times when you have received a check from somebody, but there is no money (or not enough money) in their account to cash it. Then you have to resort to asking someone (criminal or something) to tackle the problem and hopefully get the money (or part of it) one way or another.  Is there a word to refer to such a person (criminal)?
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I feel the need to refer to this concept regularly in quite different situations, so I feel that there probably is a word.  Example 1 (silly engineering one)  I want to know how fast my paper aeroplane flies so I attach my smart phone to it with an app to measure speed. The plane does not fly any more because the measurement device is far too heavy; the plane's behaviour is altered by the measurement device.  The method suffered from X.  Example 2 (human one)  I want to know what people think about something at work so I ask a question. If I ask the same question but follow it with "I want to tell the management what people think" then in some situations this is likely to affect how people answer. The questioning suffers from X.
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Is there a similar saying or idiomatic expression in English, which would correlate with the above-mentioned one, implying that misfortune will befall even on those ones, already in trouble ?
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What is the word/phrase to mean something that just happens once? For example,     I have often been told/expected to do this and not to do that. I become aimless   and gradually lose the idea of who I am. I ask myself "What is the point?" If   life is just once thing, why can't I live my life in my own way,   the way I think is right and suitable to me? If I cannot, I would   rather live a shorter life.
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Is there a term for this? I had my SIL's birthday present on my desk for weeks, and then the day I went to visit her, I forgot to bring it with me because it had sort of become part of the furniture and I didn't notice it there. Or when you walk into a room and notice the smell, but then you get used to it after a while so you don't notice it anymore. Or you walk past a shop so often that you don't notice it, and when you want to buy something that the shop sells, you forget about the shop's existence because you don't notice it anymore.
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Imagine that someone skips a step, with the hope that the audience will never know that it existed.  I was thinking extends or circumvents.  I'm not sure if these words are on the nose; I am looking for a word that really shows intent to conceal.    Here's a sample sentence:     Any plan of action that ______ preservation of human life is, at its core, flawed.
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I'm looking for an idiom to describe something that has a negligible effect.   The only similar question I found here was: , but I'm looking for something else.  I remember it being something to do with water or fire. Something along the lines of throwing a very small amount of water on a large fire? Does anyone know what I'm thinking of?
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The words are supposed to be there but have been left due to any reason. Is there a succinct term to describe such words?
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Is there a word (or phrase) for phrases that are examples of what they describe? For example, "You the verb" to tell someone they forgot a verb in an online posting, or "spacesmakethingseasiertoread".
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I want to say "someone (or something) intends to help, but instead it makes things worse". Is there any succinct expression or phrase for this?  Thanks.
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Any idioms in English for describing a person's, who is already in a bad situation confronted with new difficulties?   In my native language, we say "A man already stuck by lightning, bitten by a snake'  I am aware of 'From frying pan to fire', but that is when situation is going from bad to worse. Here he is facing additional difficulties.  thanks