if wishes were horses
if wishes were horses
proverb Wishing for something won't make it happen. You have to work for the things you want, not merely wish for them to come true. A shortening of the proverb "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride." A: "I just wish I earned a little bit more money than I do now." B: "Well, if wishes were horses."" The president said he wishes the country would be more united on this issue, but if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
See also: horse, if, wish
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
if wishes were horses
If one could readily have what one wanted, life would be easy. For example, Wendy would love a brand-new car for her sixteenth birthday but-if wishes were horses. This expression is a shortening of If wishes were horses, beggars would ride, first recorded about 1628 in a collection of Scottish proverbs.
See also: horse, if, wish
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- it takes a village
- village
- teach a man to fish
- a man is judged by his deeds, not by his words
- actions speak louder than words
- best-laid plans go astray, the
- the best-laid plans
- the best-laid plans go astray
- the best-laid plans of mice and men
- a little knowledge is a dangerous thing