hitch one's wagon to a star
English
Etymology
Coined by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay "Civilization" (1870).
Pronunciation
Audio (AU): (file)
Verb
- (Canada, US, idiomatic) To commit to an aspirational goal or course of action that will lead to fulfillment.
- 1891, Henry Augustin Beers, "The Concord Writers 1837-1861" in Initial Studies in American Letters:
- [Emerson] was not afraid to be homely and racy in expressing thought of the highest spirituality. "Hitch your wagon to a star" is a good instance of his favorite manner.
- 1909, Jack London, Martin Eden, ch. 41:
- Well, he was done, he solaced himself. He had hitched his wagon to a star and been landed in a pestiferous marsh.
- 2002, Luis S. R. Vas, Business Ideas You Can Turn Into Cash:
- So if you've had enough of life as an employee and you're planning to set up your own home-based business, do the sensible thing and hitch your wagon to the fastest rising star today — the Internet.
- 2014, Ozana Giusca, More and Better Customers - Blogging Action Plan (page 19):
- Pick a star, or hero, or whatever product/service/idea you are presenting, and hitch your wagon to it.
- 1891, Henry Augustin Beers, "The Concord Writers 1837-1861" in Initial Studies in American Letters: