the wrong horse
noun
: someone or something that is not successful
—used with choose/pick/back (etc.)
The company has been losing money, and many investors are beginning to feel that they may have backed the wrong horse.
Examples of the wrong horse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No one wants to back the wrong horse, especially in the presidential race.
—
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2024
In the Craig Gillespie film, Ferrera plays Jenny, a single mother and nurse who bets on the wrong horse.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023
Jones has a habit of making amends after backing the wrong horse.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 13 July 2023
The outcomes can be painful for companies or consumers who bet on the wrong horse.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 27 June 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2024
In the Craig Gillespie film, Ferrera plays Jenny, a single mother and nurse who bets on the wrong horse.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023
Jones has a habit of making amends after backing the wrong horse.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 13 July 2023
The outcomes can be painful for companies or consumers who bet on the wrong horse.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 27 June 2023
Dictionary Entries Near the wrong horse
Cite this Entry
“The wrong horse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20wrong%20horse. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share