The hindermost dog may catch the hare.
The hindermost dog may catch the hare.
Meaning in plain English
A person who begins behind others may still obtain the desired result. The trailing-dog image leaves room for changed circumstances and a later opportunity, without guaranteeing a reversal or making preparation and timely action irrelevant.
Example
A late-joining participant catches up with an agreed project stage after receiving the shared notes and choosing a manageable part of the work.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The dog at the back is not excluded from the possibility of catching the hare. May is central: the saying opens a possibility rather than predicting that the last participant will succeed. Applied to a task or competition, an early disadvantage need not settle every later outcome. Conditions, methods or available help may change. This provides a different emphasis from the saying that the foremost dog catches the hare. Neither image determines a real contest. The useful response looks at what remains possible now and which practical action could improve the situation, rather than accepting the starting order as a final verdict or waiting for a promised reversal.
When to use it
Use it when an initial disadvantage is being mistaken for a settled final outcome.
Keep in mind
Possible recovery is not guaranteed; assess current conditions, practical steps and available support.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-03. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 787 · Hindermost dog
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗