50 Metaphors for Useless With Meanings & Sentences
Metaphors for Useless
1. A Screen Door on a Submarine
Meaning: Something that completely doesn’t work in its setting.
In a Sentence: Giving a book to a baby is like a screen door on a submarine.
Other Ways to Say: Totally wrong / Doesn’t fit
2. A Chocolate Teapot
Meaning: Something that is attractive but completely impractical.
In a Sentence: Asking him for advice is like using a chocolate teapot.
Other Ways to Say: Pointless / Ineffective
3. A Glass Hammer
Meaning: A tool or thing that serves no real purpose.
In a Sentence: That software feature is like a glass hammer.
Other Ways to Say: Worthless / Useless
4. A Square Wheel
Meaning: Something designed poorly for its purpose.
In a Sentence: His plan was like a square wheel — going nowhere.
Other Ways to Say: Inefficient / Clumsy
5. A Waterproof Towel
Meaning: An idea or object that defeats its own purpose.
In a Sentence: That gadget is as pointless as a waterproof towel.
Other Ways to Say: Illogical / Redundant
6. A Paper Anchor
Meaning: Something intended to hold firm but utterly fails.
In a Sentence: His promises are like a paper anchor.
Other Ways to Say: Flimsy / Weak
7. A Lead Balloon
Meaning: An idea that fails completely upon presentation.
In a Sentence: His joke went down like a lead balloon.
Other Ways to Say: Total flop / Dead on arrival
8. A Bicycle for a Fish
Meaning: Something irrelevant or unnecessary.
In a Sentence: Giving him that tool is like a bicycle for a fish.
Other Ways to Say: Pointless / Misfit
9. A Sunglasses at Night
Meaning: An action or item that serves no purpose in context.
In a Sentence: Reading the rules now is like wearing sunglasses at night.
Other Ways to Say: Out of place / Meaningless
10. A Wooden Iron
Meaning: A logical contradiction or impossibility.
In a Sentence: His reasoning is like a wooden iron.
Other Ways to Say: Absurd / Contradictory
11. A Fireproof Candle
Meaning: Something created against its own function.
In a Sentence: That policy is a fireproof candle in our system.
Other Ways to Say: Ineffective / Misguided
12. A Raincoat for a Fish
Meaning: Something pointless because it protects where protection isn’t needed.
In a Sentence: Giving her advice on patience is like a raincoat for a fish.
Other Ways to Say: Unnecessary / Irrelevant
13. A Screen Umbrella
Meaning: Something that looks like it works but offers no real help.
In a Sentence: His apology was like a screen umbrella.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow / Worthless
14. A Solar Flashlight
Meaning: A thing that only works where it’s not needed.
In a Sentence: That idea is a solar flashlight in a blackout.
Other Ways to Say: Ineffective / Redundant
15. A Candle in a Hurricane
Meaning: A weak effort in an overwhelming situation.
In a Sentence: His resistance was like a candle in a hurricane.
Other Ways to Say: Futile / Hopeless
16. A Blunt Sword
Meaning: A tool or skill that has lost its effectiveness.
In a Sentence: His leadership is like a blunt sword.
Other Ways to Say: Ineffective / Weak
17. A Broken Compass
Meaning: Something meant to guide but misleads.
In a Sentence: His advice is like a broken compass.
Other Ways to Say: Misleading / Unhelpful
18. A Sealed Flute
Meaning: Something beautiful but entirely unusable.
In a Sentence: That feature is like a sealed flute.
Other Ways to Say: Useless / Decorative only
19. A Car Without Wheels
Meaning: Something missing the crucial element to work.
In a Sentence: The plan is a car without wheels.
Other Ways to Say: Incomplete / Dysfunctional
20. A Parachute Made of Lead
Meaning: A safety measure that worsens the situation.
In a Sentence: His plan is a parachute made of lead.
Other Ways to Say: Counterproductive / Dangerous
21. A Knife Without a Blade
Meaning: An object stripped of its essential part.
In a Sentence: That rule is a knife without a blade.
Other Ways to Say: Powerless / Ineffective
22. A Floodgate Without a Dam
Meaning: A control mechanism without anything to control.
In a Sentence: His precautions are a floodgate without a dam.
Other Ways to Say: Pointless / Empty
23. A Lighthouse in a Desert
Meaning: A guiding thing placed where there’s nothing to guide.
In a Sentence: The signboard is a lighthouse in a desert.
Other Ways to Say: Useless / Irrelevant
24. A Library with No Books
Meaning: Something that lacks what makes it useful.
In a Sentence: His office is a library with no books.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow / Empty
25. A Watch Without Hands
Meaning: A timepiece incapable of telling time.
In a Sentence: That schedule is a watch without hands.
Other Ways to Say: Useless / Incomplete
26. A Candle in Broad Daylight
Meaning: Providing help where none is needed.
In a Sentence: His advice was a candle in broad daylight.
Other Ways to Say: Redundant / Unnecessary
27. A Compass Pointing Nowhere
Meaning: A guide without direction.
In a Sentence: That policy is a compass pointing nowhere.
Other Ways to Say: Misguided / Directionless
28. A Bell with No Sound
Meaning: Something present but ineffective.
In a Sentence: His warnings were a bell with no sound.
Other Ways to Say: Silent / Powerless
29. A Ship Without a Rudder
Meaning: An entity with no control or direction.
In a Sentence: The company is a ship without a rudder.
Other Ways to Say: Leaderless / Aimless
30. A Mirror in the Dark
Meaning: Something useful but in the wrong setting.
In a Sentence: His advice is a mirror in the dark.
Other Ways to Say: Ineffective / Impractical
31. A Lock Without a Key
Meaning: An object rendered useless without its counterpart.
In a Sentence: The tool was a lock without a key.
Other Ways to Say: Incomplete / Useless
32. A Fire Exit on a Submarine
Meaning: A safety feature that serves no purpose.
In a Sentence: His suggestion is a fire exit on a submarine.
Other Ways to Say: Redundant / Impractical
33. A Rope of Sand
Meaning: Something that crumbles easily under pressure.
In a Sentence: His argument is a rope of sand.
Other Ways to Say: Weak / Fragile
34. A Fan in a Snowstorm
Meaning: An effort that changes nothing.
In a Sentence: His complaints were a fan in a snowstorm.
Other Ways to Say: Futile / Pointless
35. A Map of Nowhere
Meaning: Guidance without a destination.
In a Sentence: The document is a map of nowhere.
Other Ways to Say: Directionless / Confusing
36. A Seed on Concrete
Meaning: An effort made in an unproductive place.
In a Sentence: That suggestion is a seed on concrete.
Other Ways to Say: Wasted / Ineffective
37. A Lighthouse for Moles
Meaning: Guidance for those who cannot perceive it.
In a Sentence: The signal was a lighthouse for moles.
Other Ways to Say: Misplaced / Futile
38. A Rubber Nail
Meaning: A tool impossible to serve its function.
In a Sentence: That explanation was a rubber nail.
Other Ways to Say: Pointless / Absurd
39. A Shield of Paper
Meaning: Protection that offers no safety.
In a Sentence: His excuse was a shield of paper.
Other Ways to Say: Flimsy / Ineffective
40. A Net with Holes
Meaning: A system meant to catch but lets everything through.
In a Sentence: Their rules are a net with holes.
Other Ways to Say: Weak / Faulty
41. A Door Without a Frame
Meaning: Something unanchored and pointless.
In a Sentence: That suggestion is a door without a frame.
Other Ways to Say: Unsupported / Ineffective
42. A Whisper in a Thunderstorm
Meaning: A small, ineffective effort amidst chaos.
In a Sentence: His complaint was a whisper in a thunderstorm.
Other Ways to Say: Futile / Powerless
43. A Ladder Missing Steps
Meaning: An incomplete tool or method.
In a Sentence: That policy is a ladder missing steps.
Other Ways to Say: Incomplete / Ineffective
44. A Nail Without a Head
Meaning: Something designed poorly for its function.
In a Sentence: His plan is a nail without a head.
Other Ways to Say: Useless / Defective
45. A Puddle in a Desert
Meaning: An insignificant effort in a vast need.
In a Sentence: That donation is a puddle in a desert.
Other Ways to Say: Insufficient / Tiny
46. A Toothless Lion
Meaning: A powerful thing rendered harmless.
In a Sentence: His threats were a toothless lion.
Other Ways to Say: Harmless / Weak
47. A Book Without Pages
Meaning: An object lacking its essential part.
In a Sentence: His idea is a book without pages.
Other Ways to Say: Incomplete / Hollow
48. A Net Without Strings
Meaning: A system with no support or structure.
In a Sentence: Their policy is a net without strings.
Other Ways to Say: Ineffective / Faulty
49. A Fan Without Blades
Meaning: A device made powerless by design.
In a Sentence: The plan is a fan without blades.
Other Ways to Say: Useless / Dysfunctional
50. A Music Box Without Music
Meaning: A thing expected to perform but stays silent.
In a Sentence: His promise was a music box without music.
Other Ways to Say: Hollow / Deceptive
