pin the tail on the donkey

pin the tail on the donkey (uncountable)

1. (games) A children's game involving pinning a piece of material on a specified spot while blindfolded.
2. (by extension) Any attempt to aim something somewhere while handicapped in doing so.
   • 2001, David F. D'Alessandro, Brand Warfare: 10 Rules for Building the Killer Brand, McGraw-Hill Professional, →ISBN, page 35:

     Without it, you may as well be playing pin the tail on the donkey with your marketing efforts.