Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
beating a dead horse

beating a dead horse

4 7.5
Continuing to talk about something already decided and pointless
  • idiom
  • Informal
: darle vueltas a lo mismo
  • Frankly, this has turned into beating a dead horse.
  • want to beat a dead horse

And at this point guys, I'm beating a dead horse.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I have no intention of beating a dead horse.

    Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960)

  • Guys, you're beating a dead horse.

    Blog text (10)

  • I hate to beat a dead horse.

    Blog text (13)

  • Silly to beat a dead horse.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Looks like you are beating a dead horse.

    Blog text (15)

  • Talk about beating a dead horse!

    Blog text (8)

  • Why keep beating a dead horse?

    Blog text (34)

  • Now you're just beating a dead horse.

    Charlotte's Web (2006)

  • Not sure why you're beating a dead horse.

    Blog text (15)

  • There's really no need to keep discussing that topic; you're just beating a dead horse.

Synonyms

to go round in circles
vsbeating a dead horse
  • Informal
10 5.2

To keep doing the same thing without making progress

adds the idea of persisting after a matter is already settled or pointless
to sound like a broken record
vsbeating a dead horse
  • Informal
7 6.5

To keep saying the same complaint again and again until people get annoyed

applies instead to persisting in a settled or futile matter, not only repetition
to talk in circles
vsbeating a dead horse
  • Informal
4 7.2

To discuss something again and again without reaching a decision

covers continuing a settled or pointless matter rather than only failing to progress
to flog a dead horse
vsbeating a dead horse
  • Informal
1 7.5

To waste effort on something that cannot succeed

is the same idea expressed with a different idiom or phrasing
to wrestle with a pig
vsbeating a dead horse
  • Offensive
1 9.3

To argue with someone who will not listen and waste your time

focuses on futility even when the other person is not especially difficult

Antonyms

to move on
∞ 3.1

To start the next stage or activity and stop focusing on the past

to let it go
280 3.5

To choose not to react to something annoying

How Useful

beating a dead horse
  • Informal
4 7.5

Surface Forms

beating a dead horse main

Morphology

beating + a + dead + horse

The literal words ('beating' + 'dead' + 'horse') combine to create an obvious physical image — repeatedly striking something that can no longer respond — which conveys the idea of futility. Because the figurative extension (that further effort is pointless) follows a clear metaphorical logic but is not a literal compositional meaning in everyday use, a B1 learner who knows the constituents could often infer the sense but may still need exposure; this fits a semi-transparent rating.

Etymology

Beating a dead horse comes from a simple image: if you keep beating a dead horse, it will not get up or respond, so continuing to do or talk about it is 'pointless'.