Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: close the stable door after the horse has bolted Page #10

Yee yee! We've found 1,384 phrases and idioms matching close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
strap on a pairTo be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
tack upTo prepare a horse for riding by equipping it with tack.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
take a picture, it will last longeran ironic statement said after being stared at for a long time.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
there's more than one way to skin a catA problem generally has more than one solution.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
three greena confirmation given by the pilots that the landing gear has gone down successfully and has locked.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stickTry the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at on 02 Nov 06,Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at on 02 Nov 06,Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at on 02 Nov 06,I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at on 02 Nov 06,Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at on 02 Nov 06,As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at on 02 Nov 06,They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isnRate it:

(3.00 / 4 votes)
valley of deathThe phase of a startup business beginning with the entrepreneur's fulltime commitment to it and ending when the business has achieved sustainable cash flow.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
virgin territoryLand that has never been explored or developed.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
you can't take it with youIt is not possible to take one's material wealth to whatever world may await one after death.1900, E. Phillips Oppenheim, A Millionaire of Yesterday, ch. 6:"The clause whichRate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
zip upTo close with a zip fastener.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
zip upTo close as if with a zip fastener.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
back downTo take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.Rate it:

(2.67 / 3 votes)
come againCould you repeat that? Repeat that please. a polite formula used when one has not heard or understood what has been saidRate it:

(2.50 / 2 votes)
hang onTo pay close attention.Rate it:

(2.50 / 2 votes)
no news is good newsA lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.Rate it:

(2.50 / 2 votes)
little pitchers have big earsSmall children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, Abbeychurch, ch. 2:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."1939, "Bedtime Bedlam," Time, 17 Apr.:A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.2002, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ISBN 9780743455961, p. 185:I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).Rate it:

(2.33 / 3 votes)
alicui Syria (sorte) obvēnit, obtigitthe province of Syria has fallen to some one's lot.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
are you blindA rhetorical question to an individual who has failed to see or notice something.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
bite one's tongueAn admonishment to someone who has said something unfeeling or harsh.Rate it:

(2.00 / 2 votes)
born in a barnEngaging in the annoying behavior of inappropriately, and usually neglectfully, leaving open a door or window.Rate it:

(2.00 / 2 votes)
catch of the dayA type of fish or other seafood which has been caught and brought to market within more-or-less the last 24 hours.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
depuis sa faillite il file un mauvais coton (fam.)Since his failure, his health (or, reputation) has entirely broken down.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
do something with mirrorsTo insinuate one has performed a magic or optical trick with the use of hidden mirrors, insinuating trickery and sham.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
down to the short strokesIn the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
for onceFor the first time, after many instances to the contrary; in a rare exception to the rule; as an exception to the usual.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
friend with benefitsA friend with whom one has such a relationship.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
hiding to nothingA situation in which victory has little or no value, but defeat has a huge cost.Rate it:

(2.00 / 2 votes)
iron eagleAn American military officer who has attained the rank of colonel but will not be promoted to the rank of general.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
rear upTo rise up, especially an animal like a horse rising up on its rear legs.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
take aimTo position oneself and/or one's weapon so as to be aimed specifically at a chosen mark or target (which is indicated after 'at')Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
take one's ball and go homeTo cease participating in an activity that has turned to one's disadvantage, especially out of spite, or in a way that prevents others from participating as well.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
the rabbit diedA statement spoken to indicate one's own pregnancy, or that someone has found out they are pregnant.Rate it:

(2.00 / 2 votes)
the world is one's oysterIn order to achieve something in this world, one has to grab the opportunity.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
wind it upClose the discussion, adjourn the meeting, cease the efforts and labor.Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
heads I win, tails you loseSaid to describe a conflict in which someone has a particular advantage from the start.Rate it:

(1.75 / 4 votes)
have in towIn one's charge or close guidance; along with one.Rate it:

(1.50 / 2 votes)
keep one's eye on the ballMy ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.Rate it:

(1.50 / 2 votes)
amplis honoribus usus (Sall. Iug. 25. 4)a man who has held many offices.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
bar upto fit with bars (e.g. across a window or door)Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
behind the bitAn equestrian term, meaning that the horse is evading the bit.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
blessing in disguiseA misfortune that has an unexpected benefit.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
call off the dogsTo ease up on after inflicting great punishment.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
come a cropperTo fall headlong from a horse.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
cookedOf food, that has been prepared by cooking.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
crier famine sur un tas de bléTo cry out for what one has in plenty.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
dead as a dodoThat has become out of date.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
deadstick landingWhen a pilot lands a plane after the engine has died; a landing lacking any propulsion control.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
dog in the huntThis is often used erroneously to indicate that one has no stake in the outcome. As such this is a bastardization of two Southern idioms: "no dog in the fight," and "that dog won't hunt." (The latter indicates something is a bad idea or prone to fail.) Use of the phrase "no dog in the hunt" when one wishes to indicate they have no "dog in the fight" will generate funny glances from any Southerners who overhear it.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
drop like fliesDie en masse, one after the other.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
duck outTo depart quickly or exit abruptly, especially in a manner which does not attract notice and before a meeting, event, etc. has concluded.Rate it:

(1.00 / 2 votes)

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

Alternative searches for close the stable door after the horse has bolted:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
The _______ must go on.
A book
B play
C show
D production

Browse Phrases.com

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ