howl at the moon

English

Etymology

After the stereotypical behaviour of wolves howling at the moon in folklore.

Verb

howl at the moon (third-person singular simple present howls at the moon, present participle howling at the moon, simple past and past participle howled at the moon)

1. (idiomatic) To spend considerable time and effort fruitlessly in a hopeless endeavor.

Further reading

• “howl at the moon”, in Collins English Dictionary.