beat the air

【字面理解】打空气

【英文解析】to continue to make futile attempts; to fight to no purpose

【中文解析】白费力气;徒劳

【典型例句】① You are like Don Quixote in your actions. All you are doing is to beat the air. Try to be practical.你的 举动活像唐吉诃德。你所做的一切都是白费力气。还 是实际一点吧。

② He is as stubborn as a mule. All those who have tried to persuade him have only been beating the air.他固执得 很，所有试图劝说他的人都在白费口舌。

【注释】源自《圣经哥林奉前书》第9章第26节我不 会漫无边际地乱跑，也不会毫无目标地打拳。” (Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air. Corinthians 9:26)变体：beat the wind。