To Carry Coals to Newcastle (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the Saying "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.

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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