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Horse idioms are a fascinating part of the English language, offering colourful ways to express ideas about behaviour, speed, strength, and more. From “hold your horses” to “back the wrong horse,” these phrases draw inspiration from the unique characteristics and history of horses. In this guide, we’ll explore popular horse idioms, their meanings, and how to use them in everyday conversation.
Horses have galloped their way into the English language, inspiring a variety of idioms that reflect their strength, speed, and role in our lives. From expressing perseverance to describing a hasty action, these phrases have stood the test of time. Below is a list of popular horse-related idioms in British English, along with their meanings.
meaning – an unknown competitor or a person who keeps their talents secret
example – The dark horse, Duke Runalot beat the favourites to win the race.
meaning – a competition where there are only two teams/candidates with a chance of winning
example – The election is turning into a two-horse race.
meaning – an extremely obstinate/stubborn person
example – Dean won’t come out; he’s made up his mind. He’s as stubborn as a mule.
meaning – make the wrong decision/support the losing side
example – I lost £2000 this morning on the stock market. I backed the wrong horse.
meaning – an indoor frame to hang wet clothes on
example – I hate having no garden. I prefer a washing line than a clothes horse.
meaning – don’t be ungrateful, graciously accept gifts
example – I know you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but I really can’t accept £500.
meaning – eat a lot
example – I need to increase my son’s rent. He eats like a horse.
meaning – continue to focus on something that isn’t going to be a success
example – Stop flogging a dead horse. Ciara doesn’t want to be with you, stop pestering her.
meaning – stop acting like you are better than others
example – My sister needs to get off her high horse. She can’t lecture me about skiving school.
meaning – wait and be patient before doing something
example – Hold your horses. I need to read the contract in detail before I sign anything.
meaning – a small boring town
example – I left the one-horse town I was born in and moved to a big city.
meaning – someone who is skilled/successful in one area
example – Reed is more than just a one trick pony; he can score and defend.
meaning – do things in the wrong order
example – They are spending money before they’ve earned it. They’re putting the cart before the horse.
meaning – hear something from the source/most reliable person
example – I don’t believe you. I need to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
meaning – nothing would stop you from doing something
example – I’ll stay at the rave until the end. Wild horses wouldn’t drag me away.
You can download a table of horse idioms and sayings below.
If you’ve enjoyed this page, don’t forget to check out some more animal idioms by clicking on the links below.