Hold Your Horses
Meaning: Wait, be patient, or slow down.
When someone tells you to “hold your horses,” they’re asking you to be patient and wait. It’s an old saying that comes from the days of horse-drawn carriages. If the horses started moving too soon, it could cause trouble—so drivers had to hold them back. Today, we still use this expression to gently tell someone to slow down. For example, “Hold your horses! We haven’t even packed yet.”
How to use it
It’s informal and a bit playful, used with friends, family and coworkers you know well. It can sound bossy if you say it to your manager or a client, so say “Let’s wait a moment” instead. People often use it when someone is rushing into a decision or getting too excited.
Examples
- Hold your horses. We haven’t even agreed on the price yet.
- Hold your horses, I’m still putting my shoes on.
- Before you book the tickets, hold your horses and check the dates.
A common mistake
It’s always plural and with “your”: hold your horses, not “hold your horse” or “hold the horses,” even when you’re talking to one person.
Where it comes from
It appears in American newspapers in the 1800s, sometimes spelled “hold your hosses.” It most likely comes from drivers of horse-drawn carriages, who had to keep their horses calm and still.
Say it out loud
Tabbi Daily gives you one short lesson like this every day. Listen, record yourself and hear how you sound. Free, no account needed.
Source: Wikipedia