en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "Hold your horses"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 13/11/2024, 09:38
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Hold your horses

The phrase "Hold your horses" means to slow down or wait, often used when someone is being impatient or hasty.

Tone

Informal and instructive

Origin

The origin of the phrase dates back to a time when horses were essential for transportation and various tasks. It literally meant to stop and hold the reins to prevent the horses from moving forward too quickly. The phrase emerged in the United States during the 19th century, originally as "hold your hosses," with "hoss" being a colloquial term for horse.

Examples of usage

  • I know you're excited to leave, but hold your horses—we still need to pack the car.
  • Before you jump to conclusions, hold your horses and listen to the full story.

Recommended posts in Phrases

Do not judge a book by its cover

Do not judge a book by its cover

The phrase means that you should not form an opinion ... Learn more →

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

The phrase means that one should not delay or procrastinate ... Learn more →

Let the punishment fit the crime

Let the punishment fit the crime

The phrase means that the severity of the punishment should ... Learn more →

From the sublime to the ridiculous (is only a step)

From the sublime to the ridiculous (is only a step)

The phrase "From the sublime to the ridiculous (is only ... Learn more →