to chase one's (own) tail
01
to try hard yet achieve very little or nothing at all
![to [chase] {one's} (own|) tail definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/40989/original/?type=jpeg "to [chase] {one's} (own|) tail definition and meaning")
Disapproving
Idiom
Informal
例
I've been trying to finish this project for hours, but I feel like I'm just chasing my tail.
My friend is always busy, but never seems to get anything done. It's like she's constantly chasing her tail.
