carry / take coals to newcastle

/kˈaɹi tˈeɪk kˈəʊlz tə njˈuːkasəl/

/kˈæɹi tˈeɪk kˈoʊlz tə nˈuːkæsəl/

[phrase]

to carry / take coals to newcastle

[PHRASE]

to undertake something that is pointless

to [carry|take] coals to Newcastle definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "make a go of something" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "bring owls to Athens" goes back to ancient Greece, where Athens was known for its large population of owls and for being a center of learning and knowledge. Bringing owls to Athens would be unnecessary since there were already plenty of owls there. Today, the idiom is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is doing something that is redundant or unnecessary, such as bringing something to a place where it is already abundant or adding something that is not needed. The idiom implies that the person's actions are pointless and a waste of time and resources.

Examples

1. Introducing a new dance move to a group of professional dancers is like carrying coals to Newcastle - they already have plenty of moves.

2. Trying to sell umbrellas on a rainy day in a place where there are many umbrella vendors is like taking coals to Newcastle - it's unnecessary and redundant.

Nearby words