Meaning of from pillar to post | Babel Free

Definitions

From one place, place, or thing to another, hither and thither.

dated, idiomatic, not-comparable

Equivalents

Examples

“Mr. [Charles] Babbage, in his work⟳ on the Economy of Manufactures, suggests a new plan⟳ of forwarding the mail. […] Mr. Babbage proposes the erection of pillars along each line of road; these pillars are to be connected by inclined wires, or iron⟳ rods, along which the letters, inclosed in cylinders attached to the rods by rings, are to slide⟳; persons stationed on these columns are to forward⟳ the cylinders from each point⟳, after having extracted the contents belonging to their own⟳ station. In this manner it is calculated that a letter might be sent (from pillar to post⟳), to the farthest limits of the land⟳ in the course of a very small portion of time; […]”

“Q. You applied to Secretary [George Sewall] Boutwell because you had ascertained you could not get⟳ redress anywhere else?—A. No; we were sent from pillar to post⟳, and from post⟳ to pillar, and we got no satisfaction any way.”

“All these things, and others of like⟳ nature, are in their minds floating possibilities; in consequence of which they are sent from pillar to post⟳ in the realms of opinion, and are never anchored anywhere.”

“[…] gays are still hounded from pillar to post⟳ by the watchdogs of American society.”

“We campaigned like⟳ hell. On election day we went from pillar to post⟳ begging people to support⟳ us.”

“When the bill becomes an act, it will provide⟳ a big relief to people who now run⟳ from pillar to post⟳ and are forced to pay⟳ bribes to get⟳ their work⟳ done in government offices.”

“Back in August, the Toon ace [Joey Barton] was kicked from pillar to post⟳ by Karl Henry in a bone-crunching midfield battle at Molineux.”

“There was also a belief that they had been taken advantage of - "kicked from pillar to post⟳, the bottom dogs in the labour market because of the inherent love⟳ of railmen for their jobs", according to one NUR member.”

“pushed from pillar to post⟳... kicked from pillar to post⟳... driven from pillar to post⟳...”

CEFR level