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Idiom of the day

Riding a hobby horse

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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:

  1. “He’s always riding his hobby horse about the benefits of organic farming.”
  2. “Whenever we discuss environmental policies, she can’t help but ride her hobby horse about renewable energy.”
  3. “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.

Riding a hobby horse
Idiom of the day

Hold your horses

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Meaning: This idiom is used to advise someone to be patient, wait, or stop rushing into action. It implies the need to pause, calm down, or refrain from acting impulsively until the appropriate time or circumstances arise.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “Hold your horses! Let’s think through this plan before making any decisions.”
  2. “Before you make a hasty decision, hold your horses and consider all the options.”
  3. “Hold your horses, the meeting hasn’t started yet; we need to wait for everyone to arrive.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “hold your horses” can be traced back to horse racing in the United States in the early 19th century. Jockeys were instructed to “hold their horses” before the race started, ensuring that they didn’t begin prematurely and stayed in line until the signal to start the race was given. Over time, the phrase evolved into a figurative expression used to urge patience or restraint in various situations beyond horse racing.

Hold your horses
Idiom of the day

Horse of a different color

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Meaning: This idiom is used to describe a completely separate or unrelated issue or topic that differs significantly from the one being discussed. It implies a shift in focus or a change in subject to something distinct or unrelated.

Usage in Example Sentences:

  1. “We were discussing the budget, but now you’re talking about marketing strategies— that’s a horse of a different color.”
  2. “I thought we were discussing vacation plans, but now you’re bringing up work-related issues; it’s like talking about a horse of a different color.”
  3. “The initial proposal was about improving infrastructure, but now you’re proposing changes to healthcare— that’s a horse of a different color altogether.”

Origin: The origin of the idiom “horse of a different color” is traced back to Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night,” written in the early 17th century. In the play, the character Feste uses the phrase in a metaphorical sense to refer to a situation that is different or distinct from the one previously mentioned. Over time, the idiom evolved into a common expression used to describe a shift in focus or a change in topic to something unrelated.

Horse of a different color