zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Enthusiasm of an inexperienced person cannot be easily controlled.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
As my old granny would have commented: "Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse." The mosque was all frenzy, made so by factions inspired by Middle Easterners who discovered fertile ground in Brixton.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse” mean?
Enthusiasm of an inexperienced person cannot be easily controlled.
Is “zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.