change horses in the middle of the stream

change horses in the middle of the stream

1. To choose a new leader during a period of upheaval or uncertainty. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. I just don't think we should change horses in the middle of the stream. Wartime presidents are often reelected, as the population rarely wants to change horses in the middle of the stream. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance, but he will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't change horses in the middle of the stream, as the saying goes.

2. To make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. We're about to close on the house, and my husband suddenly wants to change horses in the middle of the stream and look at another property! I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through rather than change horses in the middle of the stream. Her renovations went awry because she kept changing horses in the middle of the stream. I'm not surprised the contractors couldn't keep track of it all!

See also: change, horse, middle, of, stream

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See also: change, go, horse, middle, of, stream, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.