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    I'm (UK) more familiar with blood from a stone, rather than turnip.
    – Wudang
    Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 10:53
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    Just FYI, another British English difference: in the UK the first one is nearly always phrased "...against a brick wall", not "...against the wall". In my experience.
    – callum
    Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 12:07
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    For me, "herding cats" implies that it's difficult or exasperating, but lacks an element of pointlessness. I sometimes describe setting up meetings with busy colleagues as "trying to herd cats", but I do want to meet with them--it's just hard to get all of them to agree on a time and place. Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 15:35
  • 4
    but you can herd cats ;-p
    – zzzzBov
    Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 16:22
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    If you're referring specifically to talking/convincing a person, another common idiom is like talking to a brick wall.
    – ajk
    Commented Apr 13, 2012 at 16:46