Last Updated：2025/11/20

(US, slang, rare) To do something that is impossible or very difficult, with connotations of pointlessness.

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nail Jell-O to a tree

Source Word

nail Jell-O to a tree

Verb

US rare slang

(US, slang, rare) To do something that is impossible or very difficult, with connotations of pointlessness.

Japanese Meaning

（俗語）不可能または非常に困難な行為を試みること。 / 無意味で無駄な努力、または効果の期待できない試みをすること。

Asking him to finish the whole project in one night is like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.

彼に一晩でプロジェクト全体を終わらせるよう頼むのは、不可能なことをしようとするようなものだ。

Sense（1）

(US, slang, rare) To do something that is impossible or very difficult, with connotations of pointlessness.

nails Jell-O to a tree

（ present singular third-person ）

nailing Jell-O to a tree

（ participle present ）

nailed Jell-O to a tree

（ participle past ）

nailed Jell-O to a tree

（ past ）