What’s the Origin of the Expression ‘Feeling One’s Oats’?

When someone steps beyond the limits of maturity, we often describe them as ‘feeling their oats.’ Are they acting playful? Staying out late, maybe? Shying away from responsibilities? Stepping into a new role? They’re simply reveling in those oats.

The Earliest Appearances of ‘Feeling One’s Oats’

The Oxford English Dictionary describes the phrase ‘to feel one’s oats’ as meaning 'to be full of energy; to feel overly important.' While its exact origins are unclear, the term seems to have first appeared in print during the 1800s. One such instance can be found in a 1848 newspaper (with emphasis as in the original): 'The high sheriff of an almighty small settlement in Indiana, who had arisen to that lofty position from those lowly lees of petty legal work, knowing the law, and feeling his oats, decided to carry out his duties with full force ...'

The phrase is still widely used today; it even made an appearance in a review of Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film *Barbie* (spoilers): 'Feeling his oats, Ken believes he can bring this attitude to Barbieland—quickly transforming it into 'Kendom.''

So, how did the act of handling grains come to symbolize uninhibited behavior? The phrase doesn’t really focus on the physical act of rubbing oats but instead on the feeling that comes from consuming them—as a horse might.

Getting in the Mood for Mischief

When horses are fed oats instead of their usual hay or grass, they often experience a surge of energy. They race around with a renewed sense of purpose, their posture more confident and commanding. They’re feeling those oats. 'Whether the pony felt his oats ... He took a frightful canter,' reads an 1831 reference from the OED.

Horses usually get oats when they require a quick boost of energy, thanks to the starches and sugars they contain. Oats also offer protein and B vitamins. Unlike other grains, horses can eat oats raw. This is particularly true for racehorses, who might consume up to 35,000 calories per day, some of which are in the form of oats or specially processed feed with added fats and fiber.

However, not all horses thrive on oats. Some may lack the necessary amylase enzyme to properly digest them, or they could have a gluten intolerance. In such cases, it’s better not to let a horse feel its oats.

‘Feeling one’s oats’ is just one of many phrases connected to oats. The expression ‘sow your wild oats’ also has roots in carbohydrates. In this context, wild oats don’t actually need to be sown, as they grow naturally. To ‘sow wild oats’ means to engage in unnecessary and chaotic activity.

‘Off one’s oats,’ according to the OED, is a 19th-century phrase used when someone has no appetite. And ‘to get one’s oats’ is a British slang term dating back to the 1920s, meaning 'to achieve sexual satisfaction.' Additionally, those familiar with Cockney rhyming slang might recognize the phrase ‘oats and chaff,’ which means 'footpath.'

So go ahead, feel those oats, sow them, or take whatever action you feel compelled to.