plait fog

Verb

plait fog (third-person singular simple present plaits fog, present participle plaiting fog, simple past and past participle plaited fog)

1. (UK, figuratively) To perform an action in which the result falls apart immediately or to work on organizing something that cannot be organized.
   • The result for the supervisee is an experience like 'plaiting fog', that is, trying to hold together the different strands in a unified whole — and holding the tension between the needs of client, counsellor and organization.1999, Michael Carroll, Elizabeth Holloway, Counselling Supervision in Context, page 189
   • He believed that the project was largely "plaiting fog” and making too much of what it had achieved.2003, Cathy Davis, Housing associations - rehousing women leaving domestic violence, page 57
2. (UK) Used as a metaphor for accomplishing an impossible task.
   • Just as you can't plait fog, you can hardly have an informed debate about something that means quite different things to different people.2010, Cath Irvine, Graham Firth, Ruth Berry, Understanding Intensive Interaction, page 19
   • I though H had more chance of plaiting fog than coming back with an affirmative to his request.2011, Philip Serrell, Sold to the Man With the Tin Leg

   Synonyms:

   knit fog, plait sawdust