Idiom: Snipe hunt
Meaning:
A snipe hunt is a situation in which someone is tricked into chasing after something that does not exist. The origin comes from a hazing ritual in which someone would be led into the field to catch snipe (an imaginary animal) in a sack while the other hunters pushed the snipe in that direction. The other hunters would in reality leave the hunter there and go on their way.
Country: International English | Subject Area: Animals | Usage Type: Both or All Words UsedSimilar Idioms
- That dog won't hunt
- Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
- Tall enough to hunt geese with a rake
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See also:
- View examples in Google: Snipe hunt
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