Definitions

1. 1. lit. to penetrate into a bull's horn (idiom)
2. 2. fig. to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
3. 3. to bash one's head against a brick wall
4. 4. a wild goose chase
5. 5. a blind alley
6. 6. to split hairs
7. 7. think too hard about solving an unimportant problem

Components

• 钻牛角 zuān niú jiǎo – lit. honing a bull's horn; fig. to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
• 尖 jiān – point (of needle)