“Hold your horses”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase Hold your horses means to slow down or wait, often used when someone is being impatient or hasty.
Tone Informal and instructive
Where it comes from
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
- 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.
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