The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (281 page)
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horse
see also
don't CHANGE horses in midstream
;
ENGLAND is the paradise of women
;
never look a GIFT horse in the mouth
;
a GOOD horse cannot be of a bad colour
;
while the GRASS grows, the steed starves
;
the GREY mare is the better horse
;
because a MAN is born in a stable that does not make him a horse
;
a NOD'S as good as a wink to a blind horse
;
there is NOTHING so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse
;
if you can't RIDE two horses at once, you shouldn't be in the circus
;
a SHORT horse is soon curried
;
it is too late to shut the STABLE-door after the horse has bolted
;
one man may STEAL a horse, while another may not look over a hedge
;
THREE things are not to be trusted
;
if TWO ride on a horse, one must ride behind
;
for WANT of a nail the shoe was lost
;
if WISHES were horses, beggars would ride
.
don't CHANGE horses in midstream
;
ENGLAND is the paradise of women
;
never look a GIFT horse in the mouth
;
a GOOD horse cannot be of a bad colour
;
while the GRASS grows, the steed starves
;
the GREY mare is the better horse
;
because a MAN is born in a stable that does not make him a horse
;
a NOD'S as good as a wink to a blind horse
;
there is NOTHING so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse
;
if you can't RIDE two horses at once, you shouldn't be in the circus
;
a SHORT horse is soon curried
;
it is too late to shut the STABLE-door after the horse has bolted
;
one man may STEAL a horse, while another may not look over a hedge
;
THREE things are not to be trusted
;
if TWO ride on a horse, one must ride behind
;
for WANT of a nail the shoe was lost
;
if WISHES were horses, beggars would ride
.
HORSES for courses
Originally an expression in horse-racing: different horses are suited to different race-courses. Now widely used in other contexts.
1891
Turf
vii.
A familiar phrase on the turf is ‘horses for courses’… The Brighton Course is very like Epsom, and horses that win at one meeting often win at the other.
1929
Daily Express
7 Nov.18
Followers of the ‘horses for courses’ theory will be interested in the acceptance of Saracen, Norwest and Sir Joshua.
1976
Governance of Britain
ii.
He must concentrate on the doctrine of horses for courses .. in using the specialist knowledge of individual ministers.
1985
‘’
Pearlhanger
xxiii.
It seemed to me I'd need a massacre, and immediately thought of Big John Sheehan. Horses for courses.
1996
Washington Post
7 July D6
In thoroughbred racing, it's called ‘horses for courses.’ In Hollywood, it's known as smart casting.
efficiency and inefficiency
1891Turf
vii.
A familiar phrase on the turf is ‘horses for courses’… The Brighton Course is very like Epsom, and horses that win at one meeting often win at the other.
1929
Daily Express
7 Nov.18
Followers of the ‘horses for courses’ theory will be interested in the acceptance of Saracen, Norwest and Sir Joshua.
1976
Governance of Britain
ii.
He must concentrate on the doctrine of horses for courses .. in using the specialist knowledge of individual ministers.
1985
‘’
Pearlhanger
xxiii.
It seemed to me I'd need a massacre, and immediately thought of Big John Sheehan. Horses for courses.
1996
Washington Post
7 July D6
In thoroughbred racing, it's called ‘horses for courses.’ In Hollywood, it's known as smart casting.
efficiency and inefficiencyOther books
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