to  milk   the  bull
milk
mɪlk
milk
<abbr style="text-decoration: underline;" title="the / a" > the</abbr>
ðə
dhē
<abbr style="text-decoration: underline;" title="bull / ram" > bull</abbr>
bʊl
bool

Definition & Meaning of "milk the bull"in English

to milk the bull
01

to engage in a fruitless or pointless activity 

to [milk] (the|a) (bull|ram) definition and meaning
Disapproving
Idiom
Informal
Old use

What is the origin of the idiom "milk the bull" and when to use it?

The phrase "milk the bull" may have originated from the idea that bulls are male and therefore cannot produce milk, making the act of milking a bull pointless and impossible. This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone is attempting to do something that is impossible or to try to extract something from a situation or person that is not possible.

Examples
Trying to convince him now is like milking a bull. 
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