Tilt at windmills

Meaning

Attack imaginary enemies or fight quixotic battles.

Usage

Used to describe futile or misguided fights.

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.

From Don Quixote tilting his lance at windmills mistaken for giants.

Cervantes' 1605 novel popularized the metaphor.