Meaning: This idiom means to frequently talk about or focus on a favorite topic or pet issue, often to the point of annoying others. It implies having a particular enthusiasm or obsession that one keeps bringing up.
Usage in Example Sentences:
- “He’s always riding his hobby horse about the benefits of organic farming.”
- “Whenever we discuss environmental policies, she can’t help but ride her hobby horse about renewable energy.”
- “I wish he would stop riding his hobby horse about the importance of exercise during every conversation.”
Origin: The origin of the idiom “riding a hobby horse” dates back to the 16th century. A hobby horse was a child’s toy, a stick with a horse’s head, that children would “ride” in play. By the 19th century, “hobby” had come to mean a favorite pastime or subject that one is particularly passionate about, derived from the idea of a child’s riding toy as a repetitive activity. Thus, “riding a hobby horse” metaphorically describes someone who repeatedly brings up their favorite topic or engages in a specific enthusiasm, often to the point of obsession or annoyance to others.
