Idioms containing HORSE
TOP words in categories
BEAT A DEAD HORSE
to argue or pursue a point or topic without the possibility of success
1. They should give up trying to argue with the boss on that subject. They’re beating a dead horse.
2. The boy kept asking for a motorcycle, but his mother told him he could not have one and she would not change her mind. She told him he was beating a dead horse.
2. The boy kept asking for a motorcycle, but his mother told him he could not have one and she would not change her mind. She told him he was beating a dead horse.
CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM
to change plans or leaders in the middle of some action or event
1. The president told the people that if they wanted the country to continue to move forward, they should reelect him. He said that to elect his opponent would be like changing horses in midstream.
2. The chairman of the board died suddenly before he could complete his plans for the company. The stockholders were forced to change horses in midstream and elect someone new.
2. The chairman of the board died suddenly before he could complete his plans for the company. The stockholders were forced to change horses in midstream and elect someone new.
DARK HORSE
a competitor who is little-known by most people but who is expected to win by someone more knowledgeable
1. The voters know very little about Mr. Johnson, but he’s a dark horse and I think he’ll win the election.
2. At the racetrack, we placed our money on a horse most people had never seen before, but was expected to do well. He was a dark horse in the race.
2. At the racetrack, we placed our money on a horse most people had never seen before, but was expected to do well. He was a dark horse in the race.
GET OFF (ONE'S) HIGH HORSE
to stop acting superior
1. Ted really acts like he thinks he’s the boss around here. He’d better get off his high horse pretty soon or he’ll have no friends.
2. Who do you think you are coming in here and ordering me around like this? Get off your high horse!
2. Who do you think you are coming in here and ordering me around like this? Get off your high horse!
HOLD (ONE'S) HORSES
to stay calm or be patient when someone wants to hurry
1. The children were ready to go, but their father was not. They kept bothering him until he told them to hold their horses.
2. Now just hold your horses I know you’re in a hurry, but you can’t go outside without your coat on in this chilly weather.
2. Now just hold your horses I know you’re in a hurry, but you can’t go outside without your coat on in this chilly weather.
HORSE AROUND
to play a little roughly
1. Don’t forget we’re in a library, boys. People are trying to read quietly and concentrate on their work. Stop horsing around.
2. The children should not horse around in the garage. There are too many dangerous tools in there.
2. The children should not horse around in the garage. There are too many dangerous tools in there.
HORSE OF ANOTHER COLOR
a situation or plan which represents a change from what was expected or assumed
1. Yesterday you said you wanted to go to the movies with a friend, and I assumed you meant a girlfriend. If you want to go with Ken, that’s a horse of another color.
2. At first, the unions accepted management’s offer of a 10% pay raise until they realized that management meant to spread the raise over four years instead of over two. To the unions, that was a horse of another color.
2. At first, the unions accepted management’s offer of a 10% pay raise until they realized that management meant to spread the raise over four years instead of over two. To the unions, that was a horse of another color.
HORSE SENSE
common sense (1) or shrewdness; cleverness (2)
1. You just don’t have any horse sense when it comes to looking after yourself. You stay up late, don’t get enough sleep and eat poorly.
2. I took my father along when I went to shop for a new car. He has real horse sense and can spot a good deal.
2. I took my father along when I went to shop for a new car. He has real horse sense and can spot a good deal.
LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, NOT
to find fault with a gift or to refuse a gift, usually because one is suspicious of the giver’s motives
1. You are too suspicious of Greg’s motives. If I were you, I would accept his gift graciously. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
2. Johanna said that she appreciated their thoughtfulness in giving her a new car, and that she didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but she really would prefer a model with a few more extra features like air-conditioning and a CD player.
2. Johanna said that she appreciated their thoughtfulness in giving her a new car, and that she didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but she really would prefer a model with a few more extra features like air-conditioning and a CD player.
PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE
to reverse the necessary or expected order of two things; to put a later step first
1. Christopher is already making plans to join a law firm next September, but he hasn’t even passed the bar exam yet. Isn’t he putting the cart before the horse?
2. You can’t illustrate the book before you have written the text. That’s putting the cart before the horse.
2. You can’t illustrate the book before you have written the text. That’s putting the cart before the horse.
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
directly from the primary source; directly from the person or people involved
1. You may not believe this, but the boss is quitting the company. The boss told me himself. I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.
2. Tim asked Molly where she heard the news. He thought perhaps it was just a rumor, but Molly said she got it straight from the horse’s mouth.
2. Tim asked Molly where she heard the news. He thought perhaps it was just a rumor, but Molly said she got it straight from the horse’s mouth.
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