-provefutile;beattheair;beawastedeffort;burndaylight;carrycoalstoNewCastle;catchshadows;catchthewindinanet;cometonaught;drawwaterin[with]asieve;endinsmoke;fishintheair;flogadeadhorse;holdacandletothesun;labortonopurpose;makeafutileeffort;makeuselesstrouble;milkahegoat;muchadoaboutnothing;nottosucceedaftertryinghard;paintthelily;plough[sow]thesands;plowthewave;use[exert]vainefforts;wastedeffort;workinvain;worktonoavail