Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

like painting the forth bridge

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.08 in modern English

Syllables: like -paint-ing the -forth bridge
IPA

46

Scrabble Score

26

Letters

4

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Never-ending; said of a task which will never be completed due to the perpetual cycle of having to recommence as soon as one has reached the end, or of efforts that are in vain because of this.

British usage

Example Sentences

"Where only an overview has been given, I hope that the book will provide a useful springboard and the appropriate legal advice is sought. The revision has been rather like painting the Forth Bridge and whilst every effort has been made to bring the law as up to date as possible, events often overtake one and a keen eye should be kept on the construction journals and newspapers."
"Weeding can feel like painting the Forth Bridge—by the time you finish, it’s time to start again."

Etymology

The bridge across the Firth of Forth was in a continuous state of being painted (until finished in 2011, 122 years after its completion): (owing to its large size) as soon as one end was reached, it was time to begin all over again.

Usage

British usage

Synonyms

Sisyphean

Questions

What does like painting the forth bridge mean?: Never-ending; said of a task which will never be completed due to the perpetual cycle of having to recommence as soon as one has reached the end, or of efforts that are in vain because of this.
Where does like painting the forth bridge come from?: The bridge across the Firth of Forth was in a continuous state of being painted (until finished in 2011, 122 years after its completion): (owing to its large size) as soon as one end was reached, it was time to begin all over again.

How to pronounce like painting the forth bridge

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