From pillar to post

Meaning

To be moved or sent from one place or person to another repeatedly and often without making any progress.

Origin

This phrase harks back to the lively courts of medieval Europe, specifically to games like court tennis or handball. Imagine a fast-paced game where a ball is vigorously struck back and forth, ricocheting off the 'pillars' (structural supports or walls) and 'posts' (net posts or markers) of the court. The ball is relentlessly moved from one boundary to another, unable to settle. This vivid image of constant, often frantic, movement between fixed points was adopted into common language to describe a person being shuffled around, without clear direction or resolution, much like a ball in a never-ending game.

Examples

I was sent from pillar to post trying to get my new driver's license, visiting three different offices before finally finding the right one.
The new employee felt lost and frustrated, constantly being directed from pillar to post without clear instructions on her first day.