What does the idiom 'To beat a dead horse' mean?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer to the question is “Waste time on a hopeless issue”.
Explanation:
The idiom "To beat a dead horse" (also commonly phrased as "To flog a dead horse") refers to the act of wasting effort or time on a situation that has already been decided, finished, or is impossible to change.
Literal Origin: If a horse is already dead, whipping it will not make it move or work faster. Therefore, continuing to beat it is a pointless expenditure of energy.
Modern Usage: It is often used in debates or business contexts when someone continues to talk about a topic that everyone else has already moved on from or that cannot be resolved.