applecart
noun
ap·ple·cart
ˈa-pəl-ˌkärt 
: a plan, system, situation, or undertaking that may be disrupted or terminated
upset the applecart
Examples of applecart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zayn drew ubiquitous comparisons to Daniel Bryan and the Yes Movement, which saw a grassroots movement upset the applecart of WrestleMania 30.
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Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
But for morphogenes evolution has to use the tools and tricks of photoshopping, making recourse to extant elements and rearranging or tweaking things here and there so as not to upset the complex applecart while modulating on the margins.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2010
What upsets the applecart and sends employees scattering?
—Rob Catalano, Forbes, 2 May 2022
The supplier spent two decades manufacturing the Cameroon national team jerseys and used it as an opportunity to really upset the applecart.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
But unlike France, knocked out by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, and England, eliminated during the group stage, Germany, coached by Stefan Kuntz, managed to upset the applecart.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 6 June 2021
And this ‘goldilocks’ scenario is something Wall Street seems to like: the possibility of more economic support for a struggling economy without the possibility of legislation that will completely upset the applecart.
—Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner, The Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2021
Assume another Republican seat is added, though if the commission upsets the proverbial applecart in the state, that number could grow.
—Sean Trende, National Review, 13 Nov. 2020
With the La Porte Texans bringing a perfect 6-0 record to the game and averaging 23 points per contest, no one imagined the 3-3 Tigers would come within a two-point kick of upsetting the TIFI applecart.
—Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2019
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
But for morphogenes evolution has to use the tools and tricks of photoshopping, making recourse to extant elements and rearranging or tweaking things here and there so as not to upset the complex applecart while modulating on the margins.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 12 Apr. 2010
What upsets the applecart and sends employees scattering?
—Rob Catalano, Forbes, 2 May 2022
The supplier spent two decades manufacturing the Cameroon national team jerseys and used it as an opportunity to really upset the applecart.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
But unlike France, knocked out by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, and England, eliminated during the group stage, Germany, coached by Stefan Kuntz, managed to upset the applecart.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 6 June 2021
And this ‘goldilocks’ scenario is something Wall Street seems to like: the possibility of more economic support for a struggling economy without the possibility of legislation that will completely upset the applecart.
—Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner, The Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2021
Assume another Republican seat is added, though if the commission upsets the proverbial applecart in the state, that number could grow.
—Sean Trende, National Review, 13 Nov. 2020
With the La Porte Texans bringing a perfect 6-0 record to the game and averaging 23 points per contest, no one imagined the 3-3 Tigers would come within a two-point kick of upsetting the TIFI applecart.
—Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'applecart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1788, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near applecart
Cite this Entry
“Applecart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/applecart. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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