The idiom "from pillar to post" means to move or travel from one place to another without any specific purpose or direction. It can also refer to being sent from one person or place to another without making any progress or achieving any goal.
For example, if someone says "I've been running from pillar to post all day trying to get this project done," it means they have been going to different places or talking to different people without making any real progress towards completing the project.
The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the 15th century in England. It may have been used to describe the movement of a ball in a game, or the movement of a person being punished by being tied to a post and whipped.
In modern usage, "from pillar to post" is often used to describe a frustrating or fruitless experience, such as trying to resolve a problem with customer service or navigating a confusing bureaucracy.
Overall, this idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is moving around aimlessly or being sent back and forth without making any real progress towards their goal.
• After my car broke down, I had to go from pillar to post to find a mechanic who could fix it.
• The company's new CEO has been criticized for leading the organization from pillar to post, without any clear direction.
• As a child, my parents took me from pillar to post on various vacations around the world.
• The government's handling of the pandemic has been criticized for taking the country from pillar to post, with ever-changing policies and guidelines.
• I was lost in the city and wandered from pillar to post trying to find my way back to the hotel.
• Despite his extensive knowledge of the subject, the professor's lecture jumped from pillar to post, confusing his students.