bite on granite

Etymology
The first usage of this phrase is commonly attributed to of Prussia as chronicled by, who was Chancellor of the  from 1900 - 1909. Bülow citation of the given phrase was found in a speech to the in late 1902 written in response to a public speech by the British Colonial Secretary,  (father of WWII Prime Minister ) which criticized the German army's conduct during the. Bülow was trying to end the debate on this matter within the Reichstag, so he said of Chamberlain: "Let the man alone, he's biting on granite!" [orig. "Lasst den Mann laufen, er beisst auf Granit!"] meaning that Chamberlain's criticism required no response because it would have no meaningful effect and the matter should be dropped. Regarding the chess-related usage of the phrase, it occurs multiple times in the last book written by before his death. Titled The Game of Chess when published in English in 1987, it was first published in German in 1931 as Das Schachspiel.

Verb

 * 1) To waste energy on a pointless task.
 * 2)  Of a bishop or queen: to face a diagonal occupied by two or more opposing pawns.
 * 1)  Of a bishop or queen: to face a diagonal occupied by two or more opposing pawns.