carry coals to Newcastle

== English == === Alternative forms === bring coals to Newcastle sell coal to Newcastle, sell coals to Newcastle take coals to Newcastle === Etymology === Newcastle upon Tyne (in England) was a major coal-exporting city, so sending coal there would be pointless. === Pronunciation === === Verb === carry coals to Newcastle (third-person singular simple present carries coals to Newcastle, present participle carrying coals to Newcastle, simple past and past participle carried coals to Newcastle) (idiomatic) To do something that is unneeded or redundant. Synonyms: bring owls to Athens, bring sand to the beach, sell ice to Eskimos Coordinate term: preach to the choir ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== busman's holiday