Learning English

Nobody enjoys being sent on a wild-goose chase, but it can happen. Let's check you know the meaning and form of the phrase wild-goose chase, so you can use it next time you are sent on a pointless journey!

To do

Listen to this extract of the animation to help you remember what the narrator said, then do the quick quiz to check you understood.

รับฟังเสียงพร้อมทำแบบฝีกหัด

Now have a go at this quiz. Look at the transcript if you need extra help.

How did you do?
3-4 correct - well done - you understand wild-goose chase and are ready to learn some new animal idioms!
0-2 correct - oh dear! Have a look at the vocabulary box and try again.

Language note

The phrase wild-goose chase is normally used with the article a:

•  a wild-goose chase 

 It can be used in the passive form with the verb send and the preposition on:

• She was sent on a wild-goose chase

Or the active form with the verb go or the verb send and the preposition on:

• I went on a wild-goose chase
• He sent me on a wild-goose chase

Or we can use the verb be:

• It was a wild-goose chase 
• This is a wild-goose chase

Next

You now know the phrase wild-goose chase, but do you know what animal idiom we use to describe how tiring and competitive modern life can be - particularly in big cities?

Here's a clue: it's a ______ race! Which animal goes in the gap?

Go to the next page to find out the answer and learn more useful animal idioms!