PhrasesHub

You can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • indecision
        Express the idea that it is not possible to support two opposing sides or ideas at the same time

      • hypocrisy
        Highlight the impossibility of trying to please two conflicting parties or hold two opposing beliefs simultaneously

    Examples of You can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds

    • John wanted to gain the trust of his clients and also impress his partners at the same time. However, his actions seemed to contradict his words, leaving his clients uncertain and his partners frustrated. He was trying to "hold with the hare" by being reliable and trustworthy, while also "running with the hounds" by pursuing ambitious goals that sometimes came at the expense of his clients' needs.

      The idiom "you can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds" means that you cannot simultaneously pursue two contradictory goals or commitments. The hare is a symbol of slow but steady progress, while the hounds represent speed and urgency. The idiom highlights the importance of choosing between competing priorities and being consistent in one's actions and values. In the example, John's attempt to serve two masters at once caused confusion and tension among his stakeholders, ultimately harming his credibility and effectiveness.

    • James wanted to go out with his friends to party all night, but he also had an important presentation at work the following morning. He was trying to balance both, but it seemed like an impossible task. He was caught in the middle of "trying to hold with the hare and run with the hounds."

      This idiom "you can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds" means that you cannot successfully pursue two conflicting goals or activities simultaneously. The hare is a symbol of speed, and the hounds are used to hunt. The expression originated from the idea that if you are chasing a hare, you cannot also be chasing a pack of hounds at the same time. In James' case, he was trying to balance his social life and work commitments, but it was an unrealistic expectation that ultimately led to his inability to succeed in both.

    • Sarah tried to please her boss by working on multiple projects simultaneously, but her efforts resulted in poor quality deliverables for both. She was attempting to "hold with the hare" by being efficient with one project, while also trying to "run with the hounds" by completing another quickly. In the end, Sarah's strategy failed because she couldn't effectively manage her time and resources for both projects.

      "Hold with the hare" refers to moving at a slow and steady pace, in reference to the hare from Aesop's fable "The Tortoise and the Hare". It symbolizes being slow and methodical, but reliable and consistent. "Run with the hounds" is a more urgent and fast-paced action, in reference to the chase of the hounds in a hunt. It represents being swift and efficient, but can also indicate being impulsive or reckless. The idiom, "you can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds" emphasizes that it's difficult to excel in multiple tasks simultaneously when they have conflicting demands on time, resources, and attention. It highlights the importance of prioritizing and focusing on one task at a time to achieve optimal results.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "You can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds" is used to discourage someone from engaging in a particular activity or task that will not result in any positive outcome or benefit. It also expresses the idea of indecision, highlighting the impossibility of supporting two opposing sides or ideas at the same time. Additionally, it conveys the concept of hypocrisy, emphasizing the impossibility of trying to please two conflicting parties or hold two opposing beliefs simultaneously.

    In everyday conversations, this idiom is often used to advise against trying to have it both ways or to point out the folly of attempting to maintain contradictory positions.

    Origin of "You can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds"

    The origin of the idiom "You can't hold with the hare and run with the hounds" can be traced back to hunting practices in medieval times. The phrase refers to the impossibility of simultaneously hunting with a pack of hounds and catching a hare. If one were to attempt to do both, they would end up frustrating the hounds and losing the hare, as the two activities are fundamentally at odds with each other.

    Over time, the phrase has evolved to represent the idea that it is impossible to support two opposing sides or ideas at the same time. It has become a common expression in the English language, used to caution against trying to have it both ways or to highlight the folly of attempting to maintain contradictory positions.