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UKfrom pillar to post
/fɹɒm pˈɪlə tə pˈəʊst/
/fɹʌm pˈɪlɚ tə pˈoʊst/from pillar to post
[PHRASE]1
from one place or situation to another without a clear purpose or direction, often in a chaotic or haphazard manner
synonyms : hither and thither
What is the origin of the idiom "from pillar to post" and when to use it?
The idiom "from pillar to post" is believed to have originated from the practice of punishment in medieval Europe, where a person would be tied to a pillar or post and then whipped or beaten before being sent to another pillar or post to receive more punishment. Today, the idiom is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is being sent from one place or person to another, often with a sense of frustration or confusion about why they are being moved around.
Examples
1. After the storm, the insurance company sent us from pillar to post trying to get our claim approved.
2. The job seeker has been going from pillar to post, attending job fairs and submitting resumes, but has yet to receive any job offers.
3. The refugee family has been moving from pillar to post, seeking asylum in different countries, but has been turned away at every border.
4. They're very concerned because they keep seeing a big forest cobra creating havoc just going from pillar to post, and they're all panicking.
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