wild goose

noun

1. any undomesticated goose, especially the greylag of Britain or the Canada goose.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild goose¹

before 1050; Middle English; Old English

Example Sentences

That you are trying every day, without witnesses, without even neighbors, and still you can’t bring yourself to care about wild geese.

From Outside Online

In Chicago, 86% of ShotSpotter-prompted “gunfire” deployments turned out to be wild goose chases.

From Ozy

People might well have argued that it was a waste of money to send Christopher Columbus on a wild goose chase.

From The Daily Beast

"If you tell me to I s'pose I must, but I think it's a wild-goose chase anyhow," was the disapproving answer.

From Project Gutenberg

"I like him well enough to go on a wild-goose chase in search of him," the lady replied.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Waller instantly denounced the scheme as a wild-goose chase, asserting that May was certain to lose her way.

From Project Gutenberg

At the top of the table sat Mr Grave, indistinctly visible through the steam that rose from the wild-goose before him.

From Project Gutenberg

The Indian would imitate the cry of the wild goose to attract the white hunter into the woods, where he would spring upon him.

From Project Gutenberg