Don't change horses in midstream.
1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. 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 midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't change horses in midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't change horses in midstream," as they say.
2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't change horses in midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't change horses in midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't change horses in midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!
Don't swap horses at midstream.
1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance but will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't swap horses at midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't swap horses at midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't swap horses at midstream," as they say.
2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't swap horses at midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't swap horses at midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't swap horses at midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!
Don't swap horses in midstream.
1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance but will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't swap horses in midstream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't swap horses in midstream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't swap horses in midstream," as they say.
2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, swap change horses in midstream. If you're about to close on a house, don't swap horses in midstream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't swap horses in midstream and continually alter the renovation plans!
Don't swap horses in the middle of the river.
1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance but will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't swap horses in the middle of the river, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't swap horses in the middle of the river. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't swap horses in the middle of the river," as they say.
2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't swap horses in the middle of the river. If you're about to close on a house, don't swap horses in the middle of the river and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't swap horses in the middle of the river and continually alter the renovation plans!
Don't swap horses in the middle of the stream.
1. proverb Do not try to choose or back a different political figure for an election after the decision has already been made or the position filled. Many people are dissatisfied with the senator's performance but will likely carry his party's support through to the next election—don't swap horses in the middle of the stream, as the saying goes. The prime minister has been at the helm throughout the crisis. My thought is, don't swap horses in the middle of the stream. Yes, wartime presidents are often reelected. "Don't swap horses in the middle of the stream," as they say.
2. proverb By extension, do not make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway. I'm really not confident in the strength of my essay, but I guess I just have to see this one through at this point. Like they say, don't swap horses in the middle of the stream. If you're about to close on a house, don't swap horses in the middle of the stream and start looking at other properties! If you want your contractors to be able to keep track of everything, don't swap horses in the middle of the stream and continually alter the renovation plans!
swap around
To exchange two or more people or things. A noun or pronoun can be used between "swap" and "around." We decided to swap our seats around to see if it affected the normal classroom discussion at all. Now, be sure not to swap around the dosages of these two medications, or you'll be in for a world of hurt! He swapped the two players around to confuse the other team.
swap for (someone or something)
1. To exchange or trade (something) for some period of time. A noun or pronoun can be used between "swap" and "for" to specify what is being traded or exchanged. A: "I really like the colored pencils you're using." B: "And I really like your markers. Let's swap for a while!" If you feel like you have an unequal relationship with your romantic partner, try swapping roles and responsibilities for a little while to gain some perspective from their point of view.
2. To exchange or trade someone or something for someone or something else. A noun or pronoun is used between "swap" and "for." Want to swap your cupcake for my chocolate bar? He fantasized about swapping his mediocre life for that of his wealthy, successful neighbor. I can't believe the team swapped their star quarterback for some rookie no one's ever heard of.
3. To initiate or solicit an exchange or trade with someone for something they possess. A noun or pronoun is used between "swap" and "for." Tommy always wants to swap me for the yummy treats my mom packs in my lunch. I would gladly swap you for your family—they're so normal compared to mine!
swap horses in midstream
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 swap horses in midstream.
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 swap horses in midstream and look at another property!
swap in (for someone or something)
1. To act as a substitute for someone or something. After the first quarter, I swapped in for Tom at tight end. Don't believe anyone who tries to convince you that low-fat cooking sprays can swap in for butter or oil without affecting the taste of your food.
2. To use, employ, or instruct someone or something to act as a substitute for someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "swap" and "in." With a healthy 30-point lead, the coach swapped the rookie quarterback in to give him some experience on the field. Let's try swapping in a placebo for the active ingredient and see if it changes the outcome.
3. To trade or exchange something for something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "swap" and "in." I want to swap a few of my old video games in for the new one that just came out. I always swap in my old phone once the next model becomes available.
4. In computer science, to retrieve a variable in place of some similar or equivalent value. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "swap" and "in." You can use the library function to swap in a single line of code. The host may be swapping in the memory pages of the virtual memory from the swap file.
swap notes
To share or exchange information (about someone or something) in a casual or informal manner. Opposing lawyers are always depicted as enemies on TV and in movies, but they are often friends outside of court who swap notes about other cases they're involved with. If you think that only guys swap notes on the people they've slept with, then you're just being naïve. Our exam is on Thursday, so Tom is coming over to swap notes and study with me.
swap notes about (someone or something)
To share or exchange information (about someone or something) in a casual or informal manner. Opposing lawyers are always depicted as enemies on TV and in movies, but they are often friends outside of court who swap notes about other cases they're involved with. If you think that only guys swap notes about the people they've slept with, then you're just being naïve. Tom is coming over to swap notes about our physics exam.
swap notes on (someone or something)
To share or exchange information (about someone or something) in a casual or informal manner. Opposing lawyers are always depicted as enemies on TV and in movies, but they are often friends outside of court who swap notes on other cases they're involved with. If you think that only guys swap notes on the people they've slept with, then you're just being naïve. Tom is coming over to swap notes on our physics exam.
swap out
To replace or exchange someone or something with another person or thing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "swap" and "out." I think I just need to swap out the batteries for this to start working again. It's a bad sign that they've had to swap their goaltender out after just the first ten minutes of play.
swap over
1. To exchange places, roles, or activities. I don't mind driving first—we can swap over once we're about halfway there. Well, originally I was in charge of marketing and Keith was in charge of sales, but we swapped over last fall.
2. To change or revert to an alternative thing or system. He said we should swap over to gas heating because it's more efficient than electric. I have to swap the sound system over to a different power source. Thankfully the airline swapped us over to an earlier flight at no extra cost.
swap spit(s)
slang To kiss passionately and with an open mouth; to French kiss. I went to see a movie with Tom and Janet, but they spent the whole time swapping spits! A: "Did you get lucky on your date last night, dude?" B: "We swapped spit for a while, but that's about it."
swap with (one)
To exchange or trade (someone or something) with one. A noun or pronoun can be used between "swap" and "with" to specify what is being exchanged or traded. I really like the colored pencils you're using. Will you swap with me? I know your family has been bugging you lately, but I'd swap mine with you any day. My brother wants to swap places with me for a while and see if anyone notices.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.