Carry coals to Newcastle
Meaning
To do something pointless and superfluous, especially by supplying something to a place that already has an abundance of it.
Origin
For centuries, Newcastle upon Tyne, perched in northeastern England, was the undisputed monarch of the coal trade. From the 13th century onwards, but especially by the 16th and 17th centuries, vast quantities of "black gold" were dug from its earth and dispatched across England and the globe. Its reputation was so colossal that to suggest someone would bother transporting more coal to Newcastle was the ultimate jest, a symbol of supreme futility. This stark economic reality gave birth to the phrase, immortalizing the absurdity of a truly pointless endeavor.
Examples
- Buying more teacups for Grandma, who already has a dozen sets, feels like carrying coals to Newcastle.
- Trying to teach our experienced chef how to make pasta is like carrying coals to Newcastle; he's been doing it for decades.