get blood out of a stone

== English == === Alternative forms === get blood from a stone get blood from/out of a turnip === Pronunciation === === Verb === get blood out of a stone (third-person singular simple present gets blood out of a stone, present participle getting blood out of a stone, simple past got blood out of a stone, past participle (UK) got blood out of a stone or (US) gotten blood out of a stone) (idiomatic) To do something difficult, frustrating, or pointless. Synonyms: get blood from a turnip, get blood out of a turnip, pull teeth, squeeze blood out of a turnip ==== Usage notes ==== Often found in the proverbial form: You can't get blood out of a stone. ==== Translations ====