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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

flog a dead pony en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or already settled.
    • Now was not the time to lose her temper. He was baiting her, and going over the Brazil incident was like flogging a dead pony. She was tired and the pony was past caring. 2005, Sharron McClellan, The Midas Trap, New York: Silhouette Bombshell, →ISBN, page 23:
    • […] much greater impact on actual practice when the topic wasn't flogging a dead pony (advocating a change already wide-spread) […] 1994 August 17, Lois-ellin Datta, A Matter of Consensus (Working Paper), Washington: US Dept. of Education, →OCLC, ERIC ED379290, page 15:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
flogs a dead pony Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
flogged a dead pony Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
flogged a dead pony Tense=Past lexicographic
flogging a dead pony Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

flog a dead horse · beat a dead horse