Click on the alphabet to view idioms starts with selected alphabet. But he stopped short of saying it was all doom and gloom. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_tc", "resp"); {code: 'ad_rightslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_rightslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_rightslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446382' }}, Idiom: Meaning: Pay off old scores: Take revenge: Put a spoke in one’s wheel: To upset one’s plans: Play second fiddle: Take an unimportant part: Put the cart before the horse: Put or do things in the wrong order googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_pc", "dictionary"); "When I voted for him I was convinced he would win, but I backed the wrong horse!" dfpSlots['topslot_a'] = googletag.defineSlot('/23202586/cdo_topslot', [], 'ad_topslot_a').defineSizeMapping(mapping_topslot_a).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'top').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); expires: 365 Because they’re used so often in everyday English, if you don’t know them, it’s almost impossible to understand the context. The gloom was terrible. Head back to Idiom Origins. The phrase of encouragement comes from a story of a farmer who plants grass for his horse and tells the horse to live until the grass has time to grow. treat. Get back on the horse is an admonition that one must immediately confront a failure and try again. 55. In horse racing, if you back the wrong horse you bet money on a horse that does not win the race. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971079', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, What does beat a dead horse mean? { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654174' }}, // FIXME: (temporary) - send ad requests only if PlusPopup is not shown { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot_flex' }}, googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_topslot_mobile_flex' }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776358', position: 'atf' }}, iasLog("criterion : cdo_c = " + ["law_government_military"]); name: "pubCommonId", "sign-up": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signup?rid=READER_ID", { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654156' }}, Fred backed the wrong horse in the budget hearings. This sense of the phrase dates back to the 16th century, but the present use only came into being in mid-20th century America, primarily referring to sports. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, To back the wrong horse or to bet on the wrong horse are idioms that mean to support a losing cause, to promote a loser, to make the wrong decision about which outcome will be successful. Meaning: To put a thing in the wrong order. {code: 'ad_leftslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_leftslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_leftslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[120, 600], [160, 600]] } }, Browse more . {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50]] } }, Adam’s alse (Pure water) – In the remotest parts of … Back the wrong horse definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. back the wrong horse. For example: I think we’re backing the wrong horse in supporting Jones for the job. For more call 09050 700 446 77p per minute Pisces Feb 20 - Mar 20 Feb 20 - Mar 20 SOME chit-chat and gossip at chit-chat and gossip at work could be right or it could be work could be right or it could be so wrong you end up making a so wrong you end up making a real fool of yourself if you choose real fool of yourself if you choose to listen or worse still, back the to listen or worse still, So why should the government sell now at pounds 265m?" Sentence: Mohit always puts the cart before the horse, when he practices maths. 'min': 8.50, "sign-in": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signin?rid=READER_ID", Add the power of Cambridge Dictionary to your website using our free search box widgets. October 29: Cut someone down to size: Meaning: Used in a context when you you break arrogance or pride of a person. For instance, if one fails to secure a job after a disastrous interview, one must get back on the horse and continue going to job interviews. “Can't hold a candle to (insert something or someone here)” means that the subject you're talking about isn't nearly as good at something as whatever you're inserting into the object of that sentence. Click on the alphabet to view idioms starts with selected alphabet. 1 (verb) To attempt the same challenging action after failure. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776130', position: 'btf' }}, if(!isPlusPopupShown()) }; priceGranularity: customGranularity, They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. bidders: '*', Matt, thank you so much for stating how you understand Ryken on translation of idioms. "sign-out": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signout?rid=READER_ID" Meaning. Many people who had voted for the party in the election were now feeling that they had backed the wrong horse. name: "criteo" , What is the meaning of the idiom fly off the handle? ... GoEnglish.com teaches the meaning of English idioms and phrases. Barking up the wrong tree iasLog("setting page_url: - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/back-the-wrong-horse"); surprise. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_300x250' }}, This idiom is in the animals category. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_300x250' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, },{ type: "cookie", View American English definition of back / pick the right / wrong horse. What does the idiom “Back the Wrong Horse” mean? Definition: To support the losing side For example: “I … Use In A Sentence: It was raining cats and dogs, but I slowly made my way back to the farm. Example: Don't back the wrong horse! Idioms and meaning Idioms are expressions which have a meaning that is not obvious from the individual words. 5.3%. Definition and synonyms of back / pick the right / wrong horse from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.. Idiom Meaning: An idiom is a group of words that are used as a common expression whose meaning is not deducible from that of the literal words. {code: 'ad_topslot_b', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, - She’s … { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. Because idioms don't always make sense literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_t", "right-and-wrong"); Sentence examples — I accidentally spilled the beans when I told my friend we're painting the baby's room pink. In this idiom, the word back is used in the sense of “support.” To back a horse is to support its chances of winning a race, which, in horse racing, usually entails the intention of betting on the horse to win. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346698' }}, iasLog("exclusion label : resp"); To use it in a sentence: “James is good … 'max': 3, }); },{ get off one's high horse - … Politicians who backed the wrong horse in the election are now trying to curry favor with the winning candidate—without much success. }, Download free animal idiom worksheets and PDFs for English language learners. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, iasLog("criterion : cdo_pt = entry"); Back the wrong horse definition: to support the wrong person, for example the loser in a contest or election | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; Eat like a horse: Meaning: Used to describe a person who eats a lot. 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