coals to Newcastle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A pointless venture, in the sense of sending something to a place where it is made, or where they already have an abundance.

Pronunciation

en-au-coals to Newcastle.ogg

Word forms

coals to Newcastle

Etymology

Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle, New South Wales were major coal-exporting cities, so sending coal there would be pointless.

Synonyms

owls to Athens

Related words

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