When Did The Phrase Hold Your Horses Come From?

Origins. In Book 23 of the Iliad, Homer writes “Hold your horses!” when referring to Antilochus driving like a maniac in a chariot race that Achilles initiates in the funeral games for Patroclus. During the noise of battle, a Roman soldier would hold his horses.

Where did the phrase hold your horses originate from?

The term “hold your horses” means be patient or slow down. “Hold your horses” originates from a time before cars, when horse transportation was common. The term was used literally to tell someone to stop their horses or prevent them from moving off. Nowadays, it is used figuratively to mean be patient or slow down.

What is the actual meaning of hold your horses?

used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully their decision or opinion about something: Just hold your horses, Bill! Let’s think about this for a moment.

Is hold your horses a southern phrase?

If you grew up in the South, you know hearing the phrase “hold your horses” means hang on a minute or wait, but knowing where the expression comes from isn’t quite as common knowledge. The literal meaning of the phrase is an easy one to grasp.

Is saying hold your horses rude?

Today, if someone acts better than everyone else, you might tell him to “get off your high horse.” And if someone is pushing you to do something, you can say, “Hold your horses!” This is a very informal way to tell someone to calm down and wait. You would not use it with your boss but you could use it with children.

What do cowboys say to stop a horse?

It’s whoa. This interjection means “stop.” You might use it as a command to stop a galloping horse.

What to say instead of hold your horses?

Synonyms:I’m sorry, wait a minute​/​second, hang on, just a minute​/​moment​/​second, I hate to bother​/​interrupt​/​trouble etc.

What does hold the mayonnaise mean?

Definition of hold the mayo
: to not include mayonnaise She ordered a turkey sandwich and told the waiter to hold the mayo.

Where does the expression kick the bucket come from?

The wooden frame used to hang animals by their feet for slaughter was called a bucket. As the animals struggled and spasmed, they were said to “kick the bucket.” The term gained broader definition when it was defined in Grose’s 1785 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue: “To kick the bucket, to die.”

What is the most Southern thing to say?

We chose 15 of the most ridiculous Southern sayings — and tried to explain them.

1. “We’re living in high cotton.”
2. “She was madder than a wet hen.”
3. “He could eat corn through a picket fence.”
4. “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”
5. “You look rode hard and put up wet.”
6. “He’s as drunk as Cooter Brown.”

How do Southerners say hello?

Howdy
Howdy. This is a Southern way to say hello. Howdy!

What does it mean when southerners say put on the dog?

put on a flashy display
“Putting on the dog” has a very specific, yet flexible gist and can be heard on many occasions when Southerners are around. At the core, it means to put on a flashy display or a show, or gussy it up. Someone might say it about others in good-natured talk or themselves as a self-deprecating compliment.

Do horses remember their old owners?

Many experts agree that horses do, in fact, remember their owners. Studies performed over the years suggest that horses do remember their owners similar to the way they would remember another horse. Past experiences, memories, and auditory cues provide the horse with information as to who an individual is.

What does cat has your tongue mean?

unusually quiet
informal. used to ask someone why he or she is not saying anything. “You’ve been unusually quiet tonight,” she said. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

Do horses know when their owners are sad?

Horses can read human emotions, too, often in uncannily accurate ways; alerting us to our sadness or nervousness, sometimes before we’ve even consciously registered it.

What did cowboys call guns?

Plow Handle – A single action pistol was sometime referred to as a plow handle. These were also referred to as “thumbusters,” “cutters,” “smoke poles,” and “hawg legs.”

What is a head cowboy called?

COW BOSS: In charge of the cattle operation on a ranch. They choose where the cowboys will ride and hire and fire cowboys. Answer to the general manager. COWMAN: A ranch owner that makes a living raising cattle. COW-PUNCHER: Also called Buckaroo, Cow Poke, Waddie, Cowboy, and in Spanish a “Vaquero”.

What do cowboys call their horse?

COW SENSE: When a horse a natural ability to use for roping, cutting and general cow work, they possess good cow sense. Horses with a good cow sense are said to be “cowy”. CRITTER: Often in speaking of cows or horses a cowboy calls them a “critter.” Other animals can also be critters.

How do you say hello to a horse?

The most basic equine exercise is to connect with an untethered horse in a paddock. An Equest facilitator explained that the proper way to say hello to a horse is by gently extending your closed hand. The horse returns the greeting by touching your hand with its muzzle. Simple enough.

What do you call riding a horse fast?

gallop. verb. to ride a horse very fast.

How do you remember the death of a horse?

Horse Memorial Gifts You Can Display Indoors

1. Portrait. One of the most thoughtful gifts to give to a horse lover is a portrait or drawing of his or her favorite animal.
2. Engraved horseshoe. Find someone who will engrave a horseshoe with the name of the deceased animal.
3. Plaque.
4. Photo frame.
5. Framed horse poem.
6. Collectible.