counting angels on pinheads

Verb

count angels on pinheads (third-person singular simple present counts angels on pinheads, present participle counting angels on pinheads, simple past and past participle counted angels on pinheads)

1. (idiomatic) To focus on obtaining the correct details of something which are largely irrelevant or unimportant.
   • …secondly, because it is thought to be wholly destructive, and “something has to be taught” — which is the equivalent of teaching people to count angels on pinheads when you no longer believe in the heavenly host and, thirdly, because it has seemed to be socialist in tone, direction and intention.1962, Flinders University of South Australia & the University of Adelaide Deptartment of Economics, Australian Economic Papers, page 12