Idioms

upset the applecart

This page is about the idiom upset the applecart

Meaning

If you upset the applecart, you do something that causes trouble or upsets someone's plans.

For example

  • The Stones upset the applecart by pulling out of the music festival. They were going to be the main act.

  • Kelly's sister really upset the applecart when she told Kelly that she'd seen her husband waiting for someone in a hotel lobby when he was supposed to be in New York.

Quick Quiz

We'd planned to have our wedding in the local park, but the head of the council upset the applecart when he

a. backed his car into some stalls at the market

b. refused to give us permission

c. congratulated us on our wedding
a) backed his car into some stalls at the market b) refused to give us permission c) congratulated us on our wedding

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey