I share 30 Horse idioms 30 each with meanings and examples. These horse idioms, rooted in horse-related expressions or phrases.
For instance, “Hold your horses” means to wait, while “Straight from the horse’s mouth” indicates direct information. “Dark horse” refers to an unexpected winner. These phrases, and many more, illustrate how horse-related terms are used in daily communication. The benefit after reading? They help you to understand and use idioms effectively.
List Of 30 Idioms for Horse
- Hold your horses
- Beat a dead horse
- Straight from the horse’s mouth
- Dark horse
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
- Put the cart before the horse
- Horseplay
- Horse sense
- Horse around
- Get off your high horse
- Charley horse
- Horse of a different color
- Could eat a horse
- Back the wrong horse
- Trojan horse
- A horse of a different color
- White horse
- Knight on a white horse
- Pale horse
- Bet on the wrong horse
- Front runner
- In the running
- Win by a nose
- Neck and neck
- One-trick pony
- Dog and pony show
- Pony up
Best Idioms for Horse
Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait, be patient.
Example: “Hold your horses, we haven’t finished yet.”
Beat a dead horse
Meaning: Waste effort on something already settled.
Example: “Arguing about it now is just beating a dead horse.”
Straight from the horse’s mouth
Meaning: Directly from the source.
Example: “I got the news straight from the horse’s mouth.”
Dark horse
Meaning: An unexpected winner.
Example: “She was a dark horse in the competition and won the race.”
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Meaning: Don’t criticize a gift.
Example: “Accept the gift gracefully, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Put the cart before the horse
Meaning: Do things in the wrong order.
Example: “Planning the trip before booking tickets is putting the cart before the horse.”
Short Idioms for Horse
Horseplay
Meaning: Rough, noisy play.
Example: “The kids were reprimanded for their horseplay.”
Horse sense
Meaning: Practical wisdom.
Example: “He may lack education, but he has plenty of horse sense.”
Horse around
Meaning: Fool around.
Example: “Stop horsing around and do your homework.”
Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait, be patient.
Example: “Hold your horses, we are almost ready.”
Funny Idioms for Horse
Get off your high horse
Meaning: Stop acting superior.
Example: “It’s time to get off your high horse and listen to others.”
Charley horse
Meaning: Leg cramp.
Example: “I got a charley horse after running.”
Horse of a different color
Meaning: Something entirely different.
Example: “Her opinion is a horse of a different color.”
Could eat a horse
Meaning: Very hungry.
Example: “After the hike, I could eat a horse.”
Dark Horse Idioms
Dark horse
Meaning: An unexpected winner.
Example: “He was a dark horse in the election.”
Back the wrong horse
Meaning: Support a losing proposition.
Example: “Investing in that company was like backing the wrong horse.”
Trojan horse
Meaning: Hidden danger.
Example: “The software turned out to be a Trojan horse.”
A horse of a different color
Meaning: Something entirely different.
Example: “Her approach is a horse of a different color.”
White Horse Idioms
White horse
Meaning: Symbol of heroism.
Example: “He rode in like a white horse to save the day.”
Knight on a white horse
Meaning: Heroic rescuer.
Example: “She waited for her knight on a white horse.”
Pale horse
Meaning: Symbol of death.
Example: “The pale horse in the story signified doom.”
Bet on the wrong horse
Meaning: Make a wrong choice.
Example: “By choosing that strategy, we bet on the wrong horse.”
Horse Racing Idioms
Front runner
Meaning: Leading candidate.
Example: “He’s the front runner in the race.”
In the running
Meaning: Contending.
Example: “She is still in the running for the position.”
Win by a nose
Meaning: Win by a small margin.
Example: “He won the race by a nose.”
Neck and neck
Meaning: Very close competition.
Example: “The two teams were neck and neck till the end.”
Horse and Pony Idioms
One-trick pony
Meaning: Limited skills.
Example: “He’s a one-trick pony with that routine.”
Dog and pony show
Meaning: Elaborate display.
Example: “The presentation was just a dog and pony show.”
Pony up
Meaning: Pay money.
Example: “You need to pony up for your share of the bill.”
Hold your horses
Meaning: Wait, be patient.
Example: “Hold your horses, we are almost done.”
What is the meaning of “hold your horses” idiom?
“Hold your horses” means to wait or be patient. For example, if someone is rushing, you might say, “Hold your horses, we haven’t finished yet.” You also have the option to explore a broader range of idioms, like animals idioms.
What is the meaning of “straight from the horse’s mouth” idiom?
“Straight from the horse’s mouth” means getting information directly from the source. For instance, “I got the news straight from the horse’s mouth.”
Is “Charley horse” an idiom?
Yes, “Charley horse” is an idiom. It refers to a leg cramp. For example, “I got a Charley horse after running.”
