Back the wrong horse

Meaning

The idiom "back the wrong horse" means to support or believe in something that turns out to be false, incorrect or misguided. It is often used to describe a situation where someone has made a mistake or taken a wrong course of action by putting their trust or resources into something that ultimately fails.

Usage

• "I knew I was backing the wrong horse when I invested all my savings in that new startup."
• "The politician lost the election after being accused of backing the wrong horse on key issues."
• "You shouldn't back the wrong horse by choosing a career that doesn't align with your interests or strengths."
• "I regret backing the wrong horse when I decided to pursue a relationship with someone who was not compatible with me."
• "The company failed to innovate and backed the wrong horse by sticking to outdated technology."

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 17th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the practice of horse racing, where a jockey who backed the wrong horse would lose the race and his winnings. Another theory suggests that it comes from the practice of backing a political candidate or campaign, where supporting the wrong horse could lead to failure.

Synonyms in English

• "bet on the wrong horse"
• "put faith in the wrong thing"
• "support the wrong cause"
• "invest in the wrong opportunity"
• "choose the wrong path"

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "se trouver en situation où il est difficile de se retirer" (to be in a difficult situation where it's hard to back out)
• Spanish: "estar de mal lado del árbol" (to be on the wrong side of the tree)
• German: "den falschen Weg einschlagen" (to take the wrong path)
• Italian: "avere sbaglio nella scelta" (to make a mistake in choice)
• Chinese: "错误的判断" (incorrect judgment)

Similar Idioms

• beck and call

• black out

• banana republic