from pillar to post
1 of 1phrase/frəm ˈpɪlər tə poʊst/
1
from one place or situation to another without a clear purpose or direction, often in a chaotic or haphazard manner
The idiom "from pillar to post" is believed to have originated from the practice of punishment in medieval Europe, where a person would be tied to a pillar or post and then whipped or beaten before being sent to another pillar or post to receive more punishment. Today, the idiom is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is being sent from one place or person to another, often with a sense of frustration or confusion about why they are being moved around.
- After the storm, the insurance company sent us from pillar to post trying to get our claim approved.
- The job seeker has been going from pillar to post, attending job fairs and submitting resumes, but has yet to receive any job offers.
- The patient has been sent from one pillar to another post, visiting different specialists and undergoing various tests, but his condition remains undiagnosed.
- The refugee family has been moving from pillar to post, seeking asylum in different countries, but has been turned away at every border.
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