pound sand into a rathole

English

Verb

pound sand into a rathole (third-person singular simple present pounds sand into a rathole, present participle pounding sand into a rathole, simple past and past participle pounded sand into a rathole)

1. Alternative form of pound sand
   • 1910, Iowa. Dept. of Agriculture, Iowa Book of Agriculture, page 111:

     ...but I wouldn't want it taught from the textbook, because then the ordinary teacher would pound it into the pupils just as you would pound sand into a rathole, ...

   • 1925, The Soda Fountain - Volume 24, page 40:

     Before we can even interest a bank in us we must prove where we stand and must show that we haven't been engaged in pounding sand into a rathole.

   • 2001, Sister Carol Anne O'Marie, Advent of Dying:

     Month or so ago a turrible sound started coming out of his room. Drove me nuts. Would remind you of someone pounding sand into a rathole.

   • 2013, Thomas Pluck, Blade of Dishonor:

     “If I had something better to do,” Butch said, “I'd tell you to go pound this sand into a rathole."

Derived terms

• enough sense to pound sand into a rathole