phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Running with hare and hunting with horn

Posted by Anupam Sircar on March 24, 2005

In Reply to: Running with hare and hunting with horn posted by James Briggs on March 16, 2005

: : hi,
: : can you please tell me the meaning of the phrase.

: : nupur

: The phrase is actually "Running with the hare and hunting with the hounds".
: It means trying to support two opposing causes/aims at the same time - clearly very difficult or impossible.

"THE PHRASE IS USED TO EXPRESS A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE (USUALLY A MIDDLEMAN) IS SAYING THINGS TO BOTH THE WARRING PARTIES IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT S/HE IS WORKING ENTIRELY IN THE INTEREST OF EACH ONE. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE AN UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYER FLEECING BOTH THE PARTIES. USED IN A SENTENCE: 'KNOWING THE DISPOSITION OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, THE US POLICY OF RUNNING WITH THE HARE AND HUNTING WITH THE HOUNDS IN THE INDIA-PAKISTAN IMPASSE MAY NOT WORK VERY WELL.' HOPE THIS WAS OF HELP." -ANUPAM

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