unhorse
Americanverb (used with object)
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to cause to fall from a horse, as in battle; dislodge from the saddle.
Sir Gawain unhorsed the strange knight.
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to defeat; overcome; dislodge, as from a position or office.
His vigorous campaign unhorsed his adversary.
verb
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(usually passive) to knock or throw from a horse
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to overthrow or dislodge, as from a powerful position
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rare to unharness horses from (a carriage, etc)
Etymology
Origin of unhorse
First recorded in 1350–1400, unhorse is from the Middle English word unhorsen. See un- 2, horse
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.
See Examples For:
Unseating Bush was daunting, as it is to unhorse any incumbent president.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 23, 2019
Neither was overly eager for the tougher assignment of trying to unhorse Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, 72.
From Time Magazine Archive
The odds stood at about 3 to 1 that the urban aristocrat, Meighen, cannot politically, unhorse Countryman King, who has "broken in" many a horse of flesh and blood in his day.
From Time Magazine Archive
It had been brought up in 1936, when it was obvious from the outset that no Republican could hope to unhorse Franklin Roosevelt.
From Time Magazine Archive
She be for ever telling me of the danger in this trade, and here come two gentlemen in one day and unhorse me without the profit of a sixpence to my store.
From The O'Ruddy A Romance by Williams, C. D. (Charles D.)
This came after the outgoing speaker had already been unhorsed for his own ethical failings.
From Fox News ● Feb. 6, 2019
This is a group dedicated to rehabilitating the reputation of a king they say was much maligned by Shakespeare and supporters of Henry Tudor, who killed Richard after he was unhorsed in battle.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 22, 2015
The French king was himself unhorsed by this method, and only saved by his bodyguard.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2014
They unhorsed knights who then lay helplessly on the ground in their heavy armor.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2012
Alyn and Harwin fared less well; Harwin was unhorsed in his first tilt by Ser Meryn of the Kingsguard, while Alyn fell to Ser Balon Swann.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
So, consider how the unhorsing of Cantor may strike some other Republicans.
From Washington Post
Slim Jim Carey, now the C.I.O.'s secretary-treasurer, knew that he had not the slimmest chance of unhorsing the top trio, but he carried his fight to the floor.
From Time Magazine Archive
In the fall of 1946 they headed a veterans' group that came within a lance-tip of unhorsing the political boss, Judge Cy Bond.
From Time Magazine Archive
There was even talk of unhorsing Old Guardsman Watson as Republican Leader and putting Senator McNary into his place.
From Time Magazine Archive
Yet he acquitted himself well, unhorsing Horas Redwyne in his first joust and one of the Freys in his second.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
