dead horse

noun

: an exhausted or profitless topic or issue
usually used in the phrases beat a dead horse and flog a dead horse

Examples of dead horse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some people in Atlanta witnessed an unfortunate sight on Sunday: a dead horse lying in a bustling area. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025 After four arduous episodes of beating Wihan’s dead horse, conflict is finally escalating again. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025 Deputies also found approximately 27 dead horses at the properties. Bay City News, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025 Maybe Unify will end up as a hyper-realistic AI companion that looks like Florentino Perez, or an app that measures your level of hubris, like the one that tracks your steps, or a simulator that allows users to relieve stress by flogging dead horses. Rory Smith, The Athletic, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dead horse

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dead horse was in 1830

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Cite this Entry

“Dead horse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20horse. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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