Has it ever suddenly dawned on you that a common idiom was referencing something related to horses? Horses have been an integral part of human life for thousands of years. Travel by horse in the United States only fell out of vogue around 1920, but many people living today have already forgotten how much our equine companions have influenced our history and our everyday speech. Even people who hardly ever think about horses are probably still thoughtlessly shooting off these common expressions:
1. “Get a leg up”
This saying is usually synonymous with receiving an advantage of some kind. Most people who say it haven’t received an actual “leg up,” which is the process of getting into a saddle with the help of another person.
2. “Smell the barn”
A phrase often used by hikers and sometimes by sailors, beginning to “smell the barn” means you’re nearing the end of a long journey and feel an extra wave of motivation—just like a horse would quicken his pace if he anticipates a warm stall and a meal.
3. “Chomping at the bit”
Even people who don’t realize what a bit is know how to use this expression, which means someone is eager to get going on a task or project. In the horse world, it describes a horse who is so anxious to move, it chews obsessively on the bit in its mouth.
4. “You’re a stud!”
Being called a “stud” is the ultimate compliment coming from many people, but in the literal sense, it refers to a male horse—or stallion—used for breeding.
5. “Long in the tooth”
This expression comes from the days when estimating a horse’s age by reading its teeth was a necessary skill for anyone investing in a horse for everyday transportation or to help with the family livelihood. A horse who was a “little long in the tooth,” was no spring chicken. Vets still examine horses’ teeth to estimate age, but now the expression is more commonly used to bluntly emphasize that a human is advancing in years!
6. “Reining it in”
Have you ever been so excited about something that your enthusiasm interfered with your ultimate goal? Someone probably told you to “rein it in.” Any rider who has had to slow an overly eager or bolting horse will likely understand this phrase in a more literal way!
7. “Down to the wire”
To many people, “down to the wire” means you completed something in the nick of time, right before an important deadline. But this expression originates from the wire that was once used as the finish line at the end of a horse race. If a race is “down to the wire,” it means the winner can’t be called until the last moment of the race and that the race might even require a “photo finish” (yet another common phrase with horse-word roots) to determine the victor.
8. “Fast track”
Someone on the “fast track” today has found an easier, quicker path to success in education, business, or some other pursuit, but it also describes a race track with dry, firm, and even footing that allows racehorses to run at optimal speed.
9. “Feeling your oats”
The high calorie count in oats have earned them a long reputation for making horses a little friskier than other types of feed. While this may or may not be true for every horse, the expression “feeling your oats” means you have a little extra spring in your step!
10. “Whoa!”
According to Dictionary.com, the word “whoa” has been used since at least the 1400s as a command to halt a horse. It became a term for expressing surprise and enthusiasm in the late 1800s, perhaps related to its horse roots as a way to tell someone, “Hold on a second—slow down—that’s big news!” The word’s newer meaning is so common now, even horse people who use it both ways likely don’t stop to think about its origin.
These ten phrases are just a few examples of how horses have influenced our speech. Now that you’re thinking about it, you’ll likely notice people using these and other examples even more often!
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Photo by Tatiana Zanon on Unsplash
