# flog a dead pony

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/flog-a-dead-pony
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or already settled.

## Examples

- Stop trying to fix that old car; you are flogging a dead pony.
- The committee kept debating the failed project, but they were really just flogging a dead pony.
- Despite the clear lack of public interest, the director insisted on reviving the play, effectively flogging a dead pony to an empty theater.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.