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Chasing shadows

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Chasing shadows: pursuing elusive, insubstantial, or illusory goals; the image of trying to catch something that has no physical substance is a potent metaphor for futile obsession.

Detailed Definition
Chasing shadows describes the pursuit of something unreal, elusive, deceptive, or impossible to grasp. In poetry, it naturally belongs to themes of illusion, memory, desire, obsession, and futility. A lover may chase the shadow of a lost beloved, a seeker may pursue fame, or a society may run after false promises. The image is powerful because shadows are visible but insubstantial; they invite pursuit while denying possession. It can therefore deepen poems about longing, self-deception, grief, or philosophical uncertainty.
Example
Example in poetry:
A melancholic poem might show the speaker chasing shadows of a vanished youth; In a dream poem, chasing shadows suggests pursuit of what cannot be held; The phrase suits poems about illusion, memory, and impossible desire; A poet could use it to warn against mistaking appearances for truth.
Additional Notes
Chasing shadows means pursuing illusions, false hopes, or unreachable things. In poetry, it naturally belongs to themes of desire, memory, grief, ambition, and self-deception. The image of movement after darkness is visually strong and philosophically suggestive. It can connect with Plato’s cave, Romantic longing, dream imagery, or elegiac attempts to recover what has already vanished.
Also Known As
pursuing illusions
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