[General] beat a dead horse/ make up one’s mind

vil said:

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentence?

Stop beating a dead horse. You’ve made up your mind to continue this ridiculous marriage.

beat a dead horse = beat the air, mill the wind I haven't heard "beat the air" used much in AmE, but a quick search seems to indicate that it is the same as "beat a dead horse." "Mill the wind" is unknown to me.

make up one’s mind = decide, make a decision Yes.

V.

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vil said:

"This is Mr. Mont" said Norah Curfew, "who made that splendid speech in the House..." "Beating the air". I'm afraid." (J. Galsworthy, "The Silver Spoon")

mill = Slang. To fight with the fists; box

beat the air = beat the wind = mill the air = mill the wind = carry water in a sieve = thresh over old straw = fish in the air = plou the sands = drop a bucket in an empty well = pour water into a sieve

V.

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bhaisahab said:

How does all that relate to "beating a dead horse"? (I know it as "flogging a dead horse", by the way)

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