run around like a chicken with its head cut off

The idiom "run about" is closely related to "run around like a chicken with its head cut off." Both idioms convey a sense of aimless movement and frenzied activity. When someone is said to "run about," they are typically engaging in frantic or disorganized behavior, similar to the way a headless chicken dashes about in a chaotic manner. The phrase "run about" often implies a lack of focus or direction, with the person involved expending a great deal of energy but achieving little in terms of tangible results.

The idiom "run around after" is also related to "run around like a chicken with its head cut off." To "run around after" someone or something is to constantly chase or pursue them, often without achieving the desired outcome. This can be reminiscent of the way a headless chicken aimlessly dashes about, unable to find its head or a sense of direction. When someone is said to be "running around after" someone or something, it implies that they are expending a great deal of effort and energy in their pursuit, but they may not be achieving the desired results or making progress.