The idiom "wild goose chase" means a fruitless or pointless pursuit or search for something that is unlikely to be found. It is used when someone is searching for something that is difficult to find or does not exist, or when someone is pursuing a goal that is unlikely to be achieved.
For example, if someone is looking for their lost keys in a park where they have never been before, it could be described as a wild goose chase because it is unlikely that they will find their keys there. Similarly, if someone is trying to convince their boss to give them a promotion even though they have not met the necessary qualifications, it could be described as a wild goose chase because it is unlikely that they will achieve their goal.
Overall, the idiom "wild goose chase" is used to describe a situation where someone is pursuing something that is unlikely to be achieved, and is often used to suggest that the person should focus their efforts on more realistic goals.
• I went on a wild goose chase looking for my keys, but they were in my pocket the whole time.
• The journalist spent years investigating the conspiracy theory, only to realize it was all a wild goose chase with no evidence to support it.
• The company spent months on a wild goose chase trying to develop a new product, only to find out it wasn't in demand.
• My friend sent me on a wild goose chase when he told me the concert was happening at a different venue.
• I realized I had been on a wild goose chase my entire life, pursuing a career that didn't truly make me happy.
• The police were sent on a wild goose chase after a false report of a robbery.