-rackone'sbrainsinvain;beanass[afool]forone'spains;contrivances;flogadeadhorse;goonawildgoosechase;rackone'sbrains[nerves]withoutresults;schemewithoutavail;tryinvainto...;wasteone'scontrivances;wasteone'sefforts;wasteone'slabor;schemeinvain;wasteone'spains