The
term "chasing butterflies"
refers to trying to get things you really can't catch. It alludes to
some people's goals never coming to fruition, as they have to be
altered for the sake of goals that have a higher chance of success.
It's believed that the term came from Norah Jones's song Butterflies,
released in her 2003 album "Stay With Me."
Rod
Bingaman's comedy of the same name (2009) seems to capitalize on this
usage. After Nina Davis flees her big wedding day, her stepmother
acts as a proxy to legalize the marriage. Soon, she and Nina's groom
set out to look for Nina and convince her to reconsider, only to
stumble upon a whole set of complications involving escaped convicts,
a sex addict, and a dejected deacon.
