Dictionary

tilt at windmills en · VERB

Etymology

From a passage in the novel Don Quixote where the eponymous character tilts (i.e. jousts) at windmills that he has mistaken for giants.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To attack imaginary enemies.
2. (broadly, idiomatic, intransitive) To go on a wild-goose chase; to persistently engage in a futile activity.

Forms

Relateds

mistake windmills for giants · throw one's cap over the windmill

Synonyms

charge at windmills · fight windmills · chase a rainbow

Translations (16)

es luchar contra molinos de viento (attack imaginary enemies) · ca lluïtar contra molins de vent (attack imaginary enemies) · it lottare contro i mulini a vento (attack imaginary enemies) · ru боро́ться с ветряны́ми ме́льницами (attack imaginary enemies) · sv slåss mot väderkvarnar (attack imaginary enemies) · ga dul i ngleic le samhailtí (attack imaginary enemies) · fi taistella tuulimyllyjä vastaan (attack imaginary enemies) · ru сража́ться с ветряны́ми ме́льницами (attack imaginary enemies) · fr se battre contre des moulins à vent (attack imaginary enemies) · de gegen Windmühlen kämpfen (attack imaginary enemies) · cy ymladd â melinau gwynt (attack imaginary enemies) · pl walczyć z wiatrakami (attack imaginary enemies) · he נִלְחַם בְּטַחֲנוֹת רוּחַ (attack imaginary enemies) · nb slåss mot vindmøller (attack imaginary enemies) · ro se lupta cu morile de vânt (attack imaginary enemies) · nb kjempe mot vindmøller (attack imaginary enemies)