beat the wind—(also: beat the air) continue to make futile attempts:
- We are beating the wind: the foreign public is not eager to listen to our talks however truthful they may be.
hit the breeze—(U.S. sl.) go away promptly; make off at once:
- Bob Tidball was never to “hit the breeze” again. The deadly .45 of the false friend cracked and filled the gorge with a roar.