Local Quiz- There Is A Colour In The Answer

[mrsmaggot]

Last one:-

An elaborate venture that proves useless

( thought of 'red herring' but that's more literary than a venture)

Any suggestion welcomed. Thanks

[ubasses]

white elephant

[mallyh]

red herring means a waste of time .

[pixie374]

Or blue sky

[mrsmaggot]

Thanks for those . I am finding it difficult to think outside the box!
I had thought a white elephant meant a useless / unused possession, a red herring a misleading clue and blue sky( which I had to google as never heard of this) seems to be linked to thinking about what might be /pipe dream.
Can anyone clarify please?

[emeritus]

White Elephant looks correct.

Definition from dictionary

an elaborate venture, construction, etc, that proves useless

[mallyh]

there is also a lemon

[emeritus]

Definition 3

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/white+elephant

[mrsmaggot]

Thank you Emeritus! It's there in black and white! I missed that when I was going through the dictionaries!

[grasscarp]

Well done Ubasses.