Sometimes we hear people say things like “That’s a waste of time” or “It’s no good.” These are ways to show that something isn’t helpful or doesn’t work well. But instead of always using the same words, people use fun phrases called idioms. Idioms don’t always mean what the words say. They help make talking more fun and colorful.
In this article, we’ll learn idioms that describe something or someone as useless. These expressions help us say how we feel when things don’t do what they should. Whether it’s a toy that’s broken or an idea that doesn’t help, these idioms are simple ways to share that feeling. Let’s explore these phrases and learn how to use them.
Idioms for Useless
1. A dead end
Meaning: Something that leads nowhere or has no use.
Within a Sentence: That idea was a dead end. / The trail turned out to be a dead end.
In Other Words: It didn’t help. / It was useless.
2. Not worth a dime
Meaning: Something that has no value.
Within a Sentence: That old phone isn’t worth a dime. / The toy broke it’s not worth a dime now.
In Other Words: It’s useless. / It has no value.
3. Like a screen door on a submarine
Meaning: Completely useless.
Within a Sentence: A blanket in summer is like a screen door on a submarine. / That advice was like a screen door on a submarine.
In Other Words: It makes no sense. / It doesn’t help at all.
4. Doesn’t hold water
Meaning: Doesn’t make sense or doesn’t work.
Within a Sentence: His excuse doesn’t hold water. / That plan doesn’t hold water.
In Other Words: It doesn’t work. / It’s not right.
5. A lost cause
Meaning: Something not worth trying anymore.
Within a Sentence: Trying to fix that toy is a lost cause. / That old bike is a lost cause.
In Other Words: It can’t be helped. / It’s no good.
6. Go in one ear and out the other
Meaning: Not remembered or used.
Within a Sentence: My advice went in one ear and out the other. / He doesn’t listen it goes in one ear and out the other.
In Other Words: They forget fast. / It doesn’t stick.
7. Chasing your tail
Meaning: Wasting time doing something with no result.
Within a Sentence: I was chasing my tail trying to fix the game. / It feels like we’re chasing our tails.
In Other Words: Going in circles. / Not doing anything useful.
8. All hat and no cattle
Meaning: Looks impressive but has no value.
Within a Sentence: His big talk was all hat and no cattle. / That gadget is all hat and no cattle.
In Other Words: Sounds cool, but it’s useless. / No real value.
9. Like talking to a wall
Meaning: No one listens or responds.
Within a Sentence: Asking my brother for help is like talking to a wall. / It’s like talking to a wall in class.
In Other Words: No one listens. / It’s useless to try.
10. No use crying over spilled milk
Meaning: It’s useless to be sad about what’s already happened.
Within a Sentence: You can’t fix it, so stop crying over spilled milk. / It’s done no use crying over spilled milk.
In Other Words: Don’t waste time being upset. / It won’t help.
11. Beating a dead horse
Meaning: Trying something that won’t work.
Within a Sentence: Arguing again is like beating a dead horse. / Fixing it now is beating a dead horse.
In Other Words: It’s pointless. / It won’t help.
12. Running on empty
Meaning: Having no energy or usefulness left.
Within a Sentence: This toy is running on empty. / My brain feels like it’s running on empty.
In Other Words: Worn out. / No more use.
13. Going nowhere fast
Meaning: Making no progress.
Within a Sentence: This project is going nowhere fast. / Our idea is going nowhere fast.
In Other Words: Not helping. / Stuck.
14. Like a wet match
Meaning: Doesn’t work when needed.
Within a Sentence: That plan was like a wet match. / He was like a wet match in the contest.
In Other Words: No help. / Not useful.
15. Blowing smoke
Meaning: Talking with no real meaning.
Within a Sentence: He’s just blowing smoke again. / That promise is just blowing smoke.
In Other Words: Just words. / No real action.
16. Can’t get out of a paper bag
Meaning: Very weak or unhelpful.
Within a Sentence: He can’t get out of a paper bag. / That tool couldn’t get out of a paper bag.
In Other Words: Not strong. / Useless.
17. Empty promise
Meaning: A promise that won’t happen.
Within a Sentence: That was an empty promise. / I’ve heard that empty promise before.
In Other Words: No meaning. / Won’t happen.
18. Spinning your wheels
Meaning: Trying hard but going nowhere.
Within a Sentence: I was spinning my wheels on that puzzle. / We’re just spinning our wheels.
In Other Words: No progress. / Pointless effort.
19. A one-trick pony
Meaning: Only good for one thing.
Within a Sentence: That app is a one-trick pony. / He’s just a one-trick pony in class.
In Other Words: Not useful for much. / Very limited.
20. Not up to snuff
Meaning: Not good enough.
Within a Sentence: That game’s not up to snuff. / The plan wasn’t up to snuff.
In Other Words: Not helpful. / Not working right.
21. Full of hot air
Meaning: Saying things that don’t matter.
Within a Sentence: His ideas are full of hot air. / That speech was full of hot air.
In Other Words: Useless talk. / Empty words.
22. Can’t cut the mustard
Meaning: Not able to do the job.
Within a Sentence: That computer can’t cut the mustard. / He just can’t cut the mustard.
In Other Words: Not able. / Not strong enough.
23. Like a blunt pencil
Meaning: Not sharp or useful.
Within a Sentence: That tool is like a blunt pencil. / His ideas are like a blunt pencil.
In Other Words: No point. / Not effective.
24. A flash in the pan
Meaning: Something good at first, but fails fast.
Within a Sentence: That game was just a flash in the pan. / His idea was a flash in the pan.
In Other Words: Good for a second. / Didn’t last.
25. Not worth the paper it’s written on
Meaning: Something with no real value.
Within a Sentence: That note’s not worth the paper it’s written on. / His promise isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
In Other Words: Has no value. / Can’t trust it.
26. Like a boat without a paddle
Meaning: No way to help or fix something.
Within a Sentence: We were like a boat without a paddle. / That plan was like a boat without a paddle.
In Other Words: No way forward. / No help.
27. A dry well
Meaning: Something that used to work but doesn’t now.
Within a Sentence: That idea is a dry well now. / The old system is a dry well.
In Other Words: Nothing left. / Not useful anymore.
28. A drop in the bucket
Meaning: Too small to make a difference.
Within a Sentence: My effort was a drop in the bucket. / That fix is a drop in the bucket.
In Other Words: Doesn’t help enough. / Too little.
29. Like pouring water into a sieve
Meaning: Wasting effort on something that doesn’t hold.
Within a Sentence: Teaching him felt like pouring water into a sieve. / That fix was like water in a sieve.
In Other Words: No results. / Useless action.
30. A broken record
Meaning: Repeating the same thing with no change.
Within a Sentence: You sound like a broken record. / This plan is a broken record.
In Other Words: Nothing changes. / It’s not working.
31. Doesn’t lift a finger
Meaning: Not helpful at all.
Within a Sentence: He doesn’t lift a finger to help. / She didn’t lift a finger.
In Other Words: No help. / Did nothing.
32. Like a bird without wings
Meaning: Can’t do what it’s meant to do.
Within a Sentence: That toy’s like a bird without wings. / The plan is a bird with no wings.
In Other Words: Doesn’t work. / Not useful.
33. A flat tire
Meaning: Something that stops progress.
Within a Sentence: This broken tool is a flat tire. / That error was a flat tire in our plan.
In Other Words: Slows you down. / Can’t keep going.
34. Not worth the trouble
Meaning: Takes too much effort for too little result.
Within a Sentence: Fixing that is not worth the trouble. / It’s just not worth the trouble.
In Other Words: Too hard. / Not helpful.
35. Doesn’t make a dent
Meaning: No effect at all.
Within a Sentence: My work didn’t make a dent. / That fix doesn’t make a dent.
In Other Words: No change. / Still the same.
36. A feather in the wind
Meaning: Easily moved, not useful.
Within a Sentence: That idea is like a feather in the wind. / He’s like a feather in the wind no help.
In Other Words: No direction. / Doesn’t help.
37. Running in circles
Meaning: Busy but getting nothing done.
Within a Sentence: We were running in circles. / I feel like I’m just running in circles.
In Other Words: No progress. / Pointless.
38. A fish out of water
Meaning: Not fitting or useful in a situation.
Within a Sentence: I felt like a fish out of water at that meeting. / He’s like a fish out of water in gym class.
In Other Words: Not helpful. / In the wrong place.
39. Doesn’t cut it
Meaning: Not good enough.
Within a Sentence: That excuse doesn’t cut it. / His work just doesn’t cut it.
In Other Words: Not okay. / Doesn’t meet the need.
40. All show and no go
Meaning: Looks good but doesn’t work.
Within a Sentence: That robot was all show and no go. / Her idea was all show and no go.
In Other Words: Pretty but useless. / No real help.
41. As helpful as a chocolate teapot
Meaning: Completely useless.
Within a Sentence: That tool is as helpful as a chocolate teapot. / His advice was like a chocolate teapot.
In Other Words: Silly and useless. / Not smart.
42. Dead weight
Meaning: Something that slows others down.
Within a Sentence: That broken cart is dead weight. / Don’t be dead weight on the team.
In Other Words: Not helping. / A problem.
43. Dust collector
Meaning: Something never used.
Within a Sentence: That old toy is just a dust collector. / The blender is a dust collector now.
In Other Words: Just sitting there. / Not used.
44. A waste of space
Meaning: Taking up room but not helpful.
Within a Sentence: That old printer is a waste of space. / This junk is a waste of space.
In Other Words: Not useful. / Taking up room.
45. Doesn’t move the needle
Meaning: Doesn’t make any difference.
Within a Sentence: That idea doesn’t move the needle. / My try didn’t move the needle.
In Other Words: No effect. / Didn’t help.
46. A sitting duck
Meaning: Easy to get rid of, no help.
Within a Sentence: That tool is a sitting duck. / He was a sitting duck in dodgeball.
In Other Words: No help. / Easy to miss.
47. Going through the motions
Meaning: Doing something without real use or care.
Within a Sentence: He’s just going through the motions. / We’re all just going through the motions.
In Other Words: Not really trying. / Feels fake.
48. All bark and no bite
Meaning: Sounds useful, but isn’t.
Within a Sentence: That robot’s all bark and no bite. / He’s all bark and no bite.
In Other Words: Just talk. / Doesn’t work.
49. Doesn’t pass the sniff test
Meaning: Seems wrong or useless.
Within a Sentence: That plan doesn’t pass the sniff test. / His excuse didn’t pass the sniff test.
In Other Words: Seems bad. / Not true.
50. Wasted breath
Meaning: Talking with no result.
Within a Sentence: Telling him was wasted breath. / That warning was wasted breath.
In Other Words: Didn’t help. / Useless talk.
51. Nothing to write home about
Meaning: Not special or useful.
Within a Sentence: That game is nothing to write home about. / Her project was nothing to write home about.
In Other Words: Just okay. / Not exciting.
52. Doesn’t pull its weight
Meaning: Not doing its part.
Within a Sentence: That toy doesn’t pull its weight. / He’s not pulling his weight on the team.
In Other Words: Not helping. / Not doing enough.
53. Runs out of steam
Meaning: Loses energy or stops working.
Within a Sentence: The robot ran out of steam. / I ran out of steam halfway through.
In Other Words: Can’t keep going. / No power.
54. Just a shell
Meaning: Something that looks okay but is empty or broken.
Within a Sentence: That phone’s just a shell. / This promise is just a shell.
In Other Words: Hollow. / No use.
55. Treading water
Meaning: Not moving forward.
Within a Sentence: We’re just treading water in this project. / I’m treading water with this math problem.
In Other Words: Stuck. / Not going anywhere.
56. A lame duck
Meaning: Not working well or not helpful.
Within a Sentence: That game controller is a lame duck. / He’s a lame duck in this task.
In Other Words: Doesn’t help. / Slow or broken.
57. Not firing on all cylinders
Meaning: Not working properly.
Within a Sentence: My brain’s not firing on all cylinders. / This car isn’t firing on all cylinders.
In Other Words: Not at full power. / Slow or weak.
58. Like glue on ice
Meaning: Not sticking or working at all.
Within a Sentence: That rule is like glue on ice. / His idea was glue on ice.
In Other Words: Doesn’t work. / No help.
59. Useless as a fork in a soup
Meaning: Totally wrong for the job.
Within a Sentence: That tool’s as useless as a fork in soup. / This idea’s like a fork in soup.
In Other Words: No good. / Wrong tool.
60. A light bulb with no power
Meaning: Not doing what it should.
Within a Sentence: That plan is a light bulb with no power. / His help was like a light bulb with no power.
In Other Words: No use. / Doesn’t work.
Idioms for Useless – True/False Quiz
Read each statement. Choose True if the idiom means something is useless. Choose False if it doesn’t.
- Saying “like a screen door on a submarine” means something is very helpful.
True / False - If someone says “he’s just blowing smoke,” it means he’s saying something useful.
True / False - “That’s a drop in the bucket” means it’s too small to make a big change.
True / False - “Spinning your wheels” means you are working hard and getting a lot done.
True / False - If a toy “runs out of steam,” it stops working well.
True / False - “Dead weight” means something or someone is helping the team.
True / False - “Doesn’t lift a finger” means the person is doing nothing helpful.
True / False - “A one-trick pony” means someone or something is good at many things.
True / False - “Wasted breath” means your words were helpful.
True / False - “Like pouring water into a sieve” means your actions are pointless.
True / False - “All bark and no bite” means something sounds strong but is weak.
True / False - “Treading water” means you are not moving forward.
True / False - “A flat tire” is something that helps you go faster.
True / False - “A lame duck” means something is working perfectly.
True / False - “Doesn’t move the needle” means something had a big effect.
True / False
Answers
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Some things just don’t help. Instead of saying “It’s useless” every time, idioms give us better ways to show it. These sayings can be funny or smart, and they help others understand what we mean.
Now that you know these idioms, try using them. Whether it’s about a broken toy, a silly plan, or a big talk that means nothing, you’ll know just what to say.
