bang one's head against a brick wall

Alternative forms
Many versions of this idiom exist. For instance, may be replaced with  or. can be replaced with, and can be replaced with. In addition, the idiom is often simplified into.

Verb

 * 1)  To waste effort on a futile project.

Translations

 * Finnish: hakata päätään seinään
 * French:
 * Italian: sbattere la testa contro un muro
 * Polish: walić głową w mur, walić głową w ścianę