Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to drive a coach and horses through

to drive a coach and horses through

9.9
To find big holes in a law or plan and use them
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : exponer las fallas
  • Legal experts warned that cunning lawyers would easily drive a coach and horses through the draft legislation.

Examples

  • His logic was so flawed that you could drive a coach and horses through it.

  • The opposition claimed they could drive a coach and horses through the new policy proposals.

  • Don't drive a coach and horses through the rules!

  • Can you drive a coach and horses through this argument?

  • The contract is so poorly written that you could drive a coach and horses through the loopholes.

  • Critics said the report had several flaws that you could easily drive a coach and horses through.

  • During the debate, the candidate showed how easy it was to drive a coach and horses through her opponent's claims.

Synonyms

to find fault
vsto drive a coach and horses through
15 4.4

To say something is wrong or not good, often about small things

seeks to reveal major gaps and exploit them rather than complain
to poke holes in
vsto drive a coach and horses through
  • Informal
5 4.3

To find and show weak points in an idea or plan

focuses on exposing large flaws and taking advantage of gaps
to shoot holes in
vsto drive a coach and horses through
  • Informal
1 7.2

To find and point out weak points in an idea, plan or argument

exposes and exploits major gaps rather than just criticizing

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

to strengthen
327 3.0

To make muscles, relationships, or groups stronger

How Damaging

to destroy
  • Informal
557 1.7
to drive a coach and horses through
  • UK
9.9
to undermine
270 6.8
to poke holes in
  • Informal
5 4.3
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

drive a coach and horses through infinitive
driving a coach and horses through present participle
drives a coach and horses through third person singular
drove a coach and horses through past
driven a coach and horses through past participle

Morphology

drive + a + coach + and + horse + through

The literal meanings of 'drive', 'coach', 'horses' and 'through' evoke an image of forcing a large vehicle through something and thereby making a big hole or breach, so a learner who knows the words could infer a sense of creating or exploiting a major gap. However, the conventionalized idiomatic use to mean 'undermine or expose flaws in a law/argument' is metaphorical and somewhat culture-specific/regionally British, so the precise pragmatic meaning is not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase drive a coach and horses through may come from the image of a big coach and horses being driven right through a gap in a fence or wall. That strong picture shows a very large opening or weakness, so the phrase now means 'to find or make a big gap' in a law, plan, or argument.