dead horse
Americannoun
idioms
Etymology
Origin of dead horse
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Just saying it once feels like I’m beating a dead horse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
As late as 10 p.m., the dead horse was left uncovered on the carpool lane on the 605.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2024
“I think you would like to have those players playing in an ideal world, but I feel like we’re sort of beating a dead horse in this media room a little bit,” he said.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2024
The dead horse was found by a citizen in Hempstead, about 50 miles northwest of Houston, at around 8:30 a.m.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 24, 2023
There was a white house nearby, a white rail fence, a dead horse lying in a black mound in the sun.
From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
