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Welcome to our page on horse racing idioms! Here, you’ll find some common phrases inspired by the world of horse racing. These expressions are used in everyday language to convey a variety of meanings. Whether you’re familiar with racing or not, understanding these idioms can help you add colour to your conversations. Explore the list and see how many you recognise!
Horse racing is a sport that involves horses being ridden by jockeys in an attempt to win the race. People often put money on the outcome of the races.
Many idioms originated from horse racing and here is a list of them with picture examples.
meaning – a narrow escape from danger/disaster
example – It was a close call, but we got to the gate a minute before it closed.
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 – start earlier than the others or have an advantage
example – I’ve got a head start over the other competitors as I’ve worked for the company before.
meaning – a competition that is very close towards the end
example – We need to wait for the footage to be viewed, it was a photo finish.
meaning – certain to happen/win/succeed, confidence can be placed in the outcome
example – Getting an engineering degree is a safe bet, it’s a good profession.
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 – make the wrong decision/support the losing side
example – I lost £2000 this morning on the stock market. I backed the wrong horse.
meaning – win/succeed after being in a losing position
example – The youngster is coming from behind. Can he take the champion’s crown?
meaning – until the last possible moment
example – The election will go down to the wire. I couldn’t say either way.
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 – almost as good as the opposition
example – My 3-year-old twins are giving me a run for my money.
meaning – persist until the end without quitting
example – He’s a great tennis player. I think he’ll go the distance.
meaning – very easily
example – We won hands down, the other team were rubbish.
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 – try to get into a better position against your competitors
example – All candidates are jockeying for position. They’re trying to get the most media coverage.
meaning – equal
example – The voting is neck and neck, anyone could take the crown.
meaning – have multiple partners, bet on all horses not just the favourite
example – I’m going to play the field on this last race, I’ve got nothing to lose.
meaning – successful/popular/confident
example – Katy Perry is still riding high in the charts.
meaning – take control/manage something
example – I took the reins at the meeting and bagged a new contract. My boss will be pleased.
meaning – the final stage of a long activity
example – After tomorrow’s exam, we’re in the homestretch.
meaning – horse racing
example – We’re going to the races to watch the sport of kings.
meaning – you can’t predict the outcome, it will be by a small margin
example – The election is too close to call, either of the 3 could win.
meaning – win by a very narrow margin
example – I demand a recount. He won by a nose, it’s not fair.
If you’ve enjoyed this page, don’t forget to check out some more sports idioms by clicking on the links below.