ailing horse
[ˈeɪlɪŋ hɔːrs]
noun phrasemasculinepl: ailing horses
cavalo doente
1. a horse that is suffering from illness or disease; a horse in poor health
The veterinarian examined the ailing horse to determine the cause of its lameness.
O veterinário examinou o cavalo doente para determinar a causa da sua claudicação.
2. figuratively, a person or organization in financial or operational difficulty
The company was like an ailing horse that needed immediate intervention to survive.
A empresa era como um cavalo doente que precisava de intervenção imediata para sobreviver.
In both Brazilian and American contexts, 'ailing horse' can be used metaphorically to describe struggling businesses or institutions in need of rescue or reform. The phrase has historical significance in equestrian culture and veterinary discussions. In Brazil, horses remain culturally important in rural areas and ranching traditions.
Related Idioms & Phrases
a dead horse (something that is no longer useful)
horse of a different color (something completely different)
beating a dead horse (continuing to pursue something futile)
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