Carry coals to Newcastle

Meaning

Do something redundant or pointless.

Usage

Used to point out wasted effort.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Newcastle was famous for coal, so transporting more there was unnecessary.

Recorded in English since the 16th century.