What does “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” mean?
"To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" means to support both sides of an argument or issue, or to be unfaithful or disloyal to one’s friends or associates, drawing inspiration from the practice of hunting with a pack of hounds and also chasing a hare, which would require two different strategies and allegiances.
What context can I use the in?
Example
He claims to support both political parties, but everyone knows he's just running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.
Example
She's always running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, never taking a firm stance on any issue.
Example
I can't trust him anymore. He's been running with the hare and hunting with the hounds for too long
Is “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” effectively in context?
You can use "To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" to describe someone who supports both sides of an argument or issue, or someone who is unfaithful or disloyal to their friends or associates. For example, if a friend is constantly changing their opinion to please different groups of people, you might say, 'He's always running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, never taking a firm stance on any issue.'
- 1Politics
He claims to support both political parties, but everyone knows he's just running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.
- 2Indecisiveness
She's always running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, never taking a firm stance on any issue.
- 3Betrayal
I can't trust him anymore. He's been running with the hare and hunting with the hounds for too long.
Similar phrases to “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.”:
Two-faced
To act in a deceitful or hypocritical manner, showing one face to some people and another face to others
Example
I can't trust him, he's so two-faced.
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” come from?
The origin of the phrase "To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" is unknown.
Is “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” common in everyday conversation?
The phrase "To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" is not as common in everyday conversation compared to other proverbs. However, it is still used occasionally, especially in more formal or literary contexts.
What tone does “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” have?
"To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" conveys a tone of criticism and disapproval. It is often used to describe someone's contradictory behavior or lack of loyalty.
Can “To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.” be used in informal and formal settings?
The phrase "To run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" is more formal in nature and is commonly used in written or spoken English. It can be used in various settings, including formal discussions, debates, or even in literature.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'He's always running with the hare and hunting with the hounds, never taking a firm stance on any issue.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'He's "running with the hare and hunting with the hounds".' to imply someone's contradictory behavior.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- be double-minded
- be disloyal
- be two-faced
- be indecisive
- be untrustworthy
Antonyms
- take a stand
- be loyal
- be decisive
- be trustworthy
