change horses in midstream

• swap horses in midstream
• change horses in mid-stream

Popularized by Abraham Lincoln.

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change horses in midstream (third-person singular simple present changes horses in midstream, present participle changing horses in midstream, simple past and past participle changed horses in midstream)

1. (idiomatic) To change one's plan or approach when an effort is already underway or at another inopportune time.
   • 1975, Bob Dylan, “You're a Big Girl Now”, in Blood on the Tracks:

     A change in the weather is known to be extreme / But what's the sense of changing horses in midstream?

Often used as a caution: "don't change horses in midstream".

• Gary Martin (1997–) “Change horses in midstream”, in The Phrase Finder.