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get blood out of a stone. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
get blood out of a stone, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
get blood out of a stone in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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get blood out of a stone, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Verb
get blood out of a stone (third-person singular simple present gets blood out of a stone, present participle getting blood out of a stone, simple past got blood out of a stone, past participle (UK) got blood out of a stone or (US) gotten blood out of a stone)
- (idiomatic) To do something difficult, frustrating, or pointless.
Convincing fussy eaters to try new foods is like trying to get blood out of a stone.
1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 15, in Our Mutual Friend. , volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Chapman and Hall, , published 1865, →OCLC:Bradley looked at the fire, with a working face, and was silent for a while. At last he said, with what seemed an inconsistent composure of voice and feature: ‘You can’t get blood out of a stone, Riderhood.’
Usage notes
- Often found in the proverbial form: You can't get blood out of a stone.
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