Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom.

Wild goose chase

A worthless hunt or chase

The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "wild goose chase" is a worthless hunt or chase.

It is used to describe a search that is completely unsuccessful and a waste of time because the person or thing being searched for does not exist or is somewhere else. It is often used to describe a situation where someone has been given incorrect information and is therefore wasting their time looking for something that does not exist.

Here are some examples of how the idiom "wild goose chase" can be used in a sentence:

• The police were sent on a wild goose chase by the suspect.
• The treasure hunters were on a wild goose chase when they searched for the lost gold.
• The politician's promises were a wild goose chase.