pave the cowpath
English edit
Etymology edit
Reflecting the theme that some paved roads of the 20th and 21st centuries were developed over existing rights of way such as earlier cowpaths and footpaths; see also Wikipedia at desire path.
Verb edit
pave the cowpath (third-person singular simple present paves the cowpath, present participle paving the cowpath, simple past and past participle paved the cowpath)
- (figurative) To formalize an existing de-facto practice.