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Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: A wild goose chase

This question was previously asked in
SSC CHSL 2025 Tier 1 Question Paper (21-Nov-2025) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

A futile or hopeless pursuit

The idiom a wild goose chase describes a search or effort that is useless because what is being sought cannot be found or achieved.

It comes from the difficulty of catching wild geese, which keep flying away, so the chase never succeeds.

It does not mean a fun adventure, merely a risky task, or a journey that misleads others; the stress is on wasted, hopeless effort.

Example: The fake address sent the police on a wild goose chase across the city.

Hence, A futile or hopeless pursuit.

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