Definition: A vain pursuit of something, which even if attained, would be worthless.
Origin
Logic would suggest that this phrase has something to do with chasing wild geese. Could the answer to its origin possibly be as simple as hunters of yore chasing geese merely for bit of sustenance? Most Pig Players assumed this was the case. Well, who said anything about this game being logical? It appears that the phrase originated from something much more important — a game. And geese were nowhere to be found on the playing field. Hats off to malcolm.sargent and Andmhartman777 who got this one right.
Way back in Shakespeare’s time there was a game in which riders on horseback tried to overtake each other with the goal of becoming the first player to take the lead. The losing riders were then forced to follow the leader wherever his (or doubtfully, her) whim would take them. Picture the willy-nilly paths of the riders over hill and dale. Might this bring to mind the zigging and zagging of geese in flight? I’m not sure that’s what would come to my mind (more likely what are those stupid riders doing would be my first thought), but there you have it.
