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
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.
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

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 30 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!