1.  A kind of horse-race or sport in which the second or any succeeding horse had to follow accurately the course of the leader (at a definite interval), like a flight of wild geese. Obs.

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[1592:  see 2.]

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1602.  Breton, Mother’s Blessing, Wks. (Grosart), I. 6/2. Esteeme a horse, according to his pace, But loose no wagers on a wilde goose chase.

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1604.  H. Spurway, in Trevelyan Papers (Camden), 6. The King hath beene latelye at Royston, at a wilgosse chase.

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1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. IV. 342. Horse-races, wilde-goose chases, which are the disports of greater men.

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1685.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., Hunting-horse, vii. (1697), 65.

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  2.  fig. An erratic course taken or led by one person (or thing) and followed (or that may be followed) by another (or taken by a person in following his own inclinations or impulses); in later use (the origin being forgotten) apprehended as ‘a pursuit of something as unlikely to be caught as the wild goose’ (J.); a foolish, fruitless or hopeless quest.

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1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iv. 75. Nay, if our wits run the Wild-Goose chase, I am done: For thou hast more of the Wild-Goose in one of thy wits, then I am sure I haue in my whole fiue.

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1623–4.  Middleton & Rowley, Sp. Gipsy, I. v. I have had a fine fegary, The rarest wildgoose chase!

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1646.  G. Daniel, Poems, An Addresse, 48. We pursue A Wild-goose-Chase, to what none ever knew.

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1656.  R. Fletcher, trans. Martial, 202. No hints of truth on foot? no sparks of grace? No late sprung light? to dance the wild-goose chase?

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1662.  in Engl. Hist. Rev. (1920), April, 256–7. If you cannot reason him to what may bee for his good…. But let him goe the wild goose chase.

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1673.  Ess. Educ. Gentlewom., 37. If we should dance that wild-Goose-chase usually led, it would require longer time.

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1754.  H. Walpole, Lett. to Bentley, 20 Nov. Don’t let me think, that if you return, you will set out upon every wild-goose chase, sticking to nothing.

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1876.  F. E. Trollope, Charming Fellow, xii. His journey to London on such slender encouragement is a wild-goose chase!

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1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, vii. ‘I see you have found nothing,’ exclaimed Lady Gethin…. ‘It was a wild goose chase,’ he replied with a weary look.

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