you can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

You can't have it both ways.

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “you can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds” mean?

You can't have it both ways.

Is “you can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.