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Horses dominate the world of English idioms. But what’s the story behind these well-known expressions?
1. “Hold your horses!“
Origin date: 800 BCE
In Book 23 of Homer’s Iliad, a line is often interpreted as “Antilochus—you’re driving recklessly! Hold your horses!” (The 1598 translation, however, phrases it as “Contain thy horses!”)
2. “Don’t inspect the teeth of a gifted horse.“
Origin date: 380 BCE
This saying is ancient—so much so that St. Jerome included it in his New Testament introduction: “Equi donati dentes non inspiciuntur.”
3. “You can guide a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink.“
Origin date: 1175
One of the most ancient English proverbs, this saying was initially documented in the Old English Homilies: “Hwa is thet mei thet hors wettrien the him self nule drinken.” A contemporary rendition surfaced in the 1602 play Narcissus: “They can only lead a horse to the water’s edge / But the horse decides if it will drink.”
4. “Horseplay“
Origin date: 1580s
During the 16th century, horse was frequently used as an adjective to denote something robust, large, or rough. This is how terms like horseplay and horseradish came into existence.
5. “A horse of a different color.“
Origin date: 1600s
In Act II, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Maria remarks, “My purpose is, indeed, a horse of that colour.” It’s thought that the phrase either evolved from this line or that Shakespeare was playing with an already existing idiom.
6. “Beat a dead horse.“
Origin date: 1640s
During the 17th century, sailors received their pay upfront and often spent it quickly on alcohol. The subsequent period of labor was referred to as dead horse time. Without the incentive of an upcoming paycheck, sailors were often unmotivated and inefficient.
7. “Eat like a horse.“
Origin date: 18th century
Horses consume large quantities of food. They are designed to graze continuously, and a typical 1000-pound horse needs around 20 pounds of hay daily.
8. “Get off your high horse.“
Origin date: 1780s
Being on a high horse was once a mark of distinction: Only soldiers and nobility rode towering warhorses. However, as public admiration for the elite waned during the late 1700s revolutions, the high horse became a symbol of arrogance.
9. “Dark horse“
Origin date: 1830s
Unrelated to the Katy Perry song, the term dark in the Victorian era referred to something unknown. Dark horse was racing jargon for an unexpected winner, a horse that triumphed despite being unfamiliar.
10. “One horse town“
Origin date: 1850s
Established in the 1840s, the small settlement of One Horse Town in Shasta County, California, was a frequent stop for gold miners [PDF]. According to legend, Jack Spencer’s old gray mare was the sole horse in the area.
11. “Charley horse“
Origin date: 1850s
The origin of this term is somewhat murky. One theory suggests that in the 19th century, aging horses were employed to level the infield dirt at baseball parks. When players experienced muscle cramps, they were likened to the hobbling horses used by the groundskeepers.
12. “Chomp/champ at the bit.“
Origin date: 1920s
A bit is placed inside a horse’s mouth and connected to the reins. Horses that are restless or eager often nibble or gnaw at their bits in anticipation.
This story was originally published in 2014 and has been updated for 2022.
