How to use this idiom?

[varmaswathy81]

Hi,

I want to know if the usage of this idiom is correct or not in the given sentence.

Writing a novel is like nailing jelly on the wall for him.

[emsr2d2]

Well, "nailing jelly to the wall" is a pointless, impossible task. It can't be done. Every time you hammer the nail in, the jelly would just fall to the floor again.

Presumably, writing a novel has proved or is proving impossible for him.

It's probably not the idiom I would have chosen as writing a novel is a rather long-term activity. I would associate "nailing jelly to the wall" with something more short-lived.

Trying to keep chocolate in my fridge for longer than five minutes is like nailing jelly to the wall.

[varmaswathy81]

Thanks for detailed explanation.

[Fatma Ahmed Omar]

''like nailing jelly to the wall'' this idiom used when you want to describe an impossible task to do . So if you think that writing a novel is impossible you can say this idiom . But I think when someone start writing novels he/she will be able finally to write .