push water uphill: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  USUKglobalinformalfigurative
  • To attempt a task that is futile, extremely difficult, or unlikely to succeed; to try to accomplish something as impractical as forcing water to flow uphill.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Trying to convince him to change his mind is like pushing water uphill; it’s a lost cause.

    Intentar convencerlo de cambiar de opinión es como empujar agua cuesta arriba; es una causa perdida.

  • She felt like she was pushing water uphill trying to get the company to adopt her new ideas.

    Se sentía como si estuviera empujando agua cuesta arriba tratando de que la empresa adoptara sus nuevas ideas.

  • Convincing the committee to approve the budget was pushing water uphill given their previous rejections.

    Convencer al comité para aprobar el presupuesto era una tarea casi imposible dado sus rechazos anteriores.