Drive a coach and horses through something
phrase
To expose the flaws or loopholes in something, often in a striking or clear way.
The defence lawyer drove a coach and horses through the prosecution's argument.
Often appears as...
- drove a coach and horses through their argument
- drive a coach and horses through the rules
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To expose the flaws or loopholes in something, often in a striking or clear way.
The defence lawyer drove a coach and horses through the prosecution's argument.
Often appears as...
- drove a coach and horses through their argument
- drive a coach and horses through the rules
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Visual Imagery
Imagine literally driving a large vehicle through a structure. It's about creating big, obvious disruptions.
The new evidence completely drove a coach and horses through the old theory.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
It's a figure of speech, not about driving. It means to ruin or disrupt something with force.
The whistleblower's report drove a coach and horses through the company's reputation.
Pro Tip 3/3British Origins
This phrase is chiefly British English, so it might be unfamiliar in American or other varieties of English.
He drove a coach and horses through convention by wearing jeans to the formal dinner.
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