like kicking dead whales down the beach

== English == === Alternative forms === like kicking a dead whale down the beach === Etymology === Originating in computer programming jargon. === Prepositional phrase === like kicking dead whales down the beach (simile, slang, of a task, process, etc.) Very slow and difficult. === Further reading === Eric S[teven] Raymond, editor (29 December 2003), “like kicking dead whales down the beach”, in The Jargon File, version 4.4.7.