when you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras en · X
Etymology
Coined by American medical researcher Theodore Woodward.
Meanings
- (informal) When diagnosing a patient's symptoms, common ailments should be considered as more probable than rare ones.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras | alternative | lexicographic | |
| when you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras | alternative | lexicographic |