wild-goose chase

foolish or hopeless search, eg for sth or sb that does not exist or can only be found elsewhere 愚蠢的或毫无希望的追寻（如寻找的事物或人并不存在或在他处者）: The hoaxer had sent the police on a wild-goose chase. 那个捣蛋的人让警方白白搜索了一番.

widespread, widgeon, widow, widower, widowhood, width, widthways, wield, wielder, wiener, wife, wifely, wig, wigging, wiggle, wiggly, wigwam, wilco, wild, wild card, wildcat, wildebeest, wilderness, wildfire, wildfowl, wildlife, wildly, wildness, wiles, wilful (US also willful), wilfully, wilfulness, wiliness, will, will-o'-the-wisp, will-o-the-wisp, will-power, willful, willfully, willfulness,