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To Carry Coals to Newcastle (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the Saying "To Carry Coals to Newcastle"?

homesitemapsayings & proverbs to carry coals to newcastle
To carry coals to Newcastle means to do something pointless and superfluous.

Newcastle upon Tyne (England) was a well-known coal-mining area and the United Kingdom's first coal exporting port. With so much coal already in Newcastle, taking more there was pointless.
carry coals to Newcastle (Origin)

Examples of Use:

  • Bringing sand to the beach would be like carrying coals to Newcastle; it's unnecessary and redundant.
  • Trying to sell umbrellas in Japan is like carrying coals to Newcastle; there's already an abundance of them.
  • Teaching his team basic coding is like carrying coals to Newcastle; they are already programming experts.
  • Transporting coal to a mining town would be like carrying coals to Newcastle; they already have an abundance of it.

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This page was written by Craig Shrives.

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