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3. drive a coach and horses through

drive a coach and horses through

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drive a coach and horses through something

Fig. to expose weak points or "holes" in an argument, alibi, or criminal case by [figuratively] driving a horse and carriage through them. (Formal. Emphasizes the large size of the holes or gaps in the argument.) The barrister drove a horse and carnage through the witness's testimony. The opposition will drive a coach and horses through the wording of that government bill.

See also: and, coach, drive, horse

drive a coach and horses through something

  (British)

if someone drives a coach and horses through a rule, an opinion, a plan, or a tradition, they destroy it by doing something against it which it is too weak to prevent His company drove a coach and horses through employment legislation. She produced statistics which drove a coach and horses through the chairman's argument.

See also: and, coach, drive, horse