flog a dead horse: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 2.

  British EnglishHistorical usagedatednauticalMachine
  • To attempt to extract extra work or effort from a ship's crew during the period known as the 'dead horse' (a historical naval practice).

  Examples

  Beta

  • During the long voyage, the captain ordered the crew to flog a dead horse to push morale.

    Durante el largo viaje, el capitán ordenó a la tripulación que trabajara duro para mantener la moral.

  • They flogged a dead horse for extra shifts before the ship finally docked at port.

    Hicieron trabajar extra a la tripulación antes de que el barco finalmente atracara en el puerto.

  • Flogging a dead horse was common during the ‘dead horse’ period when sailors were expected to do extra work.

    Flogging a dead horse era común durante el período llamado ‘dead horse’, cuando se esperaba que los marineros trabajaran más.

• 1.

  British EnglishidiomaticinformalMachine
  • To continue to pursue or argue a matter that is hopeless, exhausted, or already settled, yielding no useful result.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Trying to convince her to change her mind now is like flogging a dead horse.

    Intentar convencerla de que cambie de opinión ahora es como insistir en algo inútil.

  • We’ve already discussed this issue at length; continuing to argue is just flogging a dead horse.

    Ya discutimos este tema extensamente; seguir discutiendo es perder el tiempo.

  • He keeps bringing up old complaints, but it’s no use—he’s flogging a dead horse.

    Él sigue sacando quejas viejas, pero no sirve de nada, está insistiendo en algo inútil.