tilting at windmills

The phrase "tilting at windmills" refers to a futile or pointless effort in confronting imaginary enemies or engaging in an unwinnable or irrational battle. It originated from Miguel de Cervantes' novel "Don Quixote," in which the main character, Don Quixote, fought against windmills, mistakenly believing them to be giants. The phrase is commonly used to describe situations where someone is pursuing an unrealistic or impractical goal, often with great determination but limited chances of success.