seek a knot in a bulrush



seek a knot in a bulrush

To engage in a futile task; to try to find problems where none exist. A bulrush is a grassy plant that is not prone to knots. You'd have better luck seeking a knot in a bulrush than getting those flowers to grow on such rocky soil. I read the report so many times that the boss will be seeking a knot in a bulrush to try to find errors in it.
See also: knot, seek

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Boitumelo-Southern African, Tswana
Soo-Jinsoo-jeenKorean
Warin-Ancient Germanic
Salimsah-LEEMArabic
Rajeev-Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Nepali
Melker-Swedish