drive a coach and horses through

drive a coach and horses through (something)

To expose the flaws in something, such as a statement, argument, or belief. Primarily heard in UK. The suspect had said he wasn't there that night but then drove a coach and horses through that idea with today's contradictory statement.

See also: and, coach, drive, horse, through

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

drive a coach and horses through something

Fig. to expose weak points or "holes" in an argument, alibi, or criminal case by [figuratively] driving a horse and carriage through them. (Formal. Emphasizes the large size of the holes or gaps in the argument.) The barrister drove a horse and carnage through the witness's testimony. The opposition will drive a coach and horses through the wording of that government bill.

See also: and, coach, drive, horse, through

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

drive a coach and horses through

make something entirely useless or ineffective. British

An early example of this idiom is found in this statement by the Irish lawyer Stephen Rice ( 1637–1715 ): ‘I will drive a coach and six horses through the Act of Settlement’. Early versions of the phrase also refer to a space big enough to turn a coach and six (or four ) (i.e. horses) in, but the context, following Rice's declaration, is very often that of rendering a law or regulation ineffective.

1997 Spectator A coach and horses was driven through one of the guiding principles of American statecraft.

See also: and, coach, drive, horse, through

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

See also:

drive a coach and horses through (something)
drive a coach and horses through something
can drive a truck through something
could drive a truck through (something)
truck
blow a hole in
blow a hole in (something)
blow a hole in something
I wouldn't kick (someone) out of bed for farting
I wouldn't throw (someone) out of bed for farting

词组	drive a coach and horses through
释义	drive a coach and horses through drive a coach and horses through (something) To expose the flaws in something, such as a statement, argument, or belief. Primarily heard in UK. The suspect had said he wasn't there that night but then drove a coach and horses through that idea with today's contradictory statement. See also: and, coach, drive, horse, through Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. drive a coach and horses through something Fig. to expose weak points or "holes" in an argument, alibi, or criminal case by [figuratively] driving a horse and carriage through them. (Formal. Emphasizes the large size of the holes or gaps in the argument.) The barrister drove a horse and carnage through the witness's testimony. The opposition will drive a coach and horses through the wording of that government bill. See also: and, coach, drive, horse, through McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. drive a coach and horses through make something entirely useless or ineffective. British An early example of this idiom is found in this statement by the Irish lawyer Stephen Rice ( 1637–1715 ): ‘I will drive a coach and six horses through the Act of Settlement’. Early versions of the phrase also refer to a space big enough to turn a coach and six (or four ) (i.e. horses) in, but the context, following Rice's declaration, is very often that of rendering a law or regulation ineffective. 1997 Spectator A coach and horses was driven through one of the guiding principles of American statecraft. See also: and, coach, drive, horse, through Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: drive a coach and horses through (something) drive a coach and horses through something can drive a truck through something could drive a truck through (something) truck blow a hole in blow a hole in (something) blow a hole in something I wouldn't kick (someone) out of bed for farting I wouldn't throw (someone) out of bed for farting
随便看	hard hit, be hard/hot on somebody's heels hard knocks hard line hardliner hard lines hard lines! hard liquor hard luck hard luck/lines hardly hardly dry behind the ears hardly earth-shattering hardly ever hardly have time to breathe hardly have time to think hard-nosed hard nut to crack hard off hard of hearing hard-on hard on hard on (one's)/the heels hard on the eyes hard on the heels of (someone or something)