horses for courses
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
The phrase stems from the fact that a racehorse performs best on a racecourse to which it is specifically suited.
[edit] Noun
- (idiomatic) A person suited for one job may not be suited for another job, regardless of their expertise in the former job.
- (idiomatic) The practice of choosing the best person for a particular job.
[edit] Usage notes
- The chiasmus "courses for horses" is less used.
- The term is widely used in the foreign-language translation industry, where a translator is selected for a job not only according to their fluency in the language pairs, but also by their intimate knowledge of the subject matter.
