The earliest recorded instance of this expression, in A. E. T. Watson's Turf ( 1891 ), suggests its origin: ‘A familiar phrase on the turf is “horses for courses”…the Brighton Course is very like Epsom, and …

When they talk about horses for courses, they are really talking about the importance of getting the right barrister for a particular case.

Sep 30, 2025 · Although the exact wording “horses for courses” is late nineteenth century in its first printed appearances, the core idea it expresses—that different people or tools are suited to different …

Aug 4, 2023 · The idiom 'horses for courses' derives from horse racing and symbolizes the concept of tailoring solutions to meet the individual characteristics of a situation or problem.

Dec 14, 2025 · Horses racing at Musselburgh Racecourse in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK. The phrase horses for courses alludes to the fact that a racehorse performs best on a racecourse to …

You can use "Horses for courses" to emphasize the importance of choosing the right person or thing for a particular situation or task. For example, if someone is selecting a candidate for a job, you might …

horses for courses [British] said to mean that different people are suitable for different things or kinds of situation, and this ought to be taken into account when making choices in particular cases

What does the idiom 'Horses For Courses' mean? With a clear, concise definition and usage examples, discover this idiom's meaning and usage in the English language.

Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom 'horses for courses' with examples and explanations.

Aug 10, 2024 · The ‘Horses for Courses’ idiom finds its way into numerous discussions. For instance, when assigning roles in a group project, it’s essential to consider each member’s strengths.