at fault
Preserved but no longer current.
Not on the right track. Hounds are at fault when the fox has jumped upon a wall, crossed a river, cut through a flock of sheep, or doubled like a hare, because the scent, i.e. the track, is broken.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “at fault” mean?
Not on the right track. Hounds are at fault when the fox has jumped upon a wall, crossed a river, cut through a flock of sheep, or doubled like a hare, because the scent, i.e. the track, is broken.
Is “at fault” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.