🪨 Getting Blood from a Stone (or Turnip): Impossible Endeavors Explored 🥕
Definition:
- “You can’t get blood from a stone/turnip”: A cliché meaning it is impossible to extract what isn’t there, often used to underscore the futility of a task with no yields.
Related and Similar Terms:
- “Beating a dead horse”: Wasting effort on something that has no hope of succeeding.
- “Barking up the wrong tree”: Pursuing the wrong course of action.
- “Crying over spilled milk”: Complaining about something irreparable.
- “A lost cause”: An endeavor that is doomed to fail.
Synonyms:
- Mission impossible
- Wild goose chase
- Fool’s errand
- Hopeless endeavor
Antonyms:
- A sure thing
- Low-hanging fruit
- Walk in the park
- Easy as pie
Humor-Filled Quotes:
“Trying to get money out of a scrooge is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Good luck with that!”
—Uncle Pennywise
Proverbs:
- “His bark is worse than his bite.”
- “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
- “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”
References in Literature and Pop Culture:
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens: “I can’t get blood from a stone, and therein we agree.”
- Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens: “A little blood-letting served his turn, but his stone would keep its compact form whatever squeezed it.”
- Sahara by Clive Cussler: “‘You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip,’ said Giordino. ‘It’s a miracle we made it this far.’”
Suggested Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies:
- Books:
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
- Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
- Sahara by Clive Cussler
- Songs:
- “The Impossible Dream” by Andy Williams
- Movies:
- Mission: Impossible series
- Poetry:
- “The Lotos-Eaters” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, which discusses a defeated and weary band of sailors.
Parting Words:
In any futile endeavor, there’s always a lesson lurking beneath the surface. While it may feel impossible to extract something from nothing, the wisdom gleaned from the experience can be far richer than any tangible results.
Explore the impossible, attempt the unachievable, and enjoy the process more than the prize. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself.
Until our next cliché adventure, stay diligent, stay curious, but don’t squeeze too hard. Sometimes it’s not about what you get, but about having fun trying to get it!
Yours whimsically, W. T. Wittywords
### Which phrase does NOT mean the same as "You can't get blood from a stone"?
- [x] A piece of cake
- [ ] A wild goose chase
- [ ] Beating a dead horse
- [ ] Barking up the wrong tree
> **Explanation:** Though tempting, "A piece of cake" means something is very easy, quite the opposite of an impossible task like extracting blood from a stone!
### Which word is NOT a synonym for the mentioned cliché?
- [ ] Fool’s errand
- [x] A sure thing
- [ ] Mission impossible
- [ ] Hopeless endeavor
> **Explanation:** While the others are hopeless undertakings, "a sure thing" guarantees success, contrasting sharply with the futility of getting blood from a stone.
### True or False: "Cat's pajamas" conveys the same meaning as "You can't get blood from a stone."
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Cat’s pajamas" is an old-fashioned term indicating excellence or coolness—quite different from an impossible endeavor!
