English Idiom – Hold your horses.
Wait. This expression is a command that tells someone to stop doing something or to wait for a moment. Hold your horses may also be used to tell someone to think more carefully about what they are doing – to consider their actions before making a rushed decision. You can also use this expression to tell someone to be more patient.
Need to tell someone to hurry up? Try these idioms:
More idioms featuring horses:
- Dark horse – Someone who wins something unexpectedly
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth – Don’t question the value of a gift that you receive
- Eat like a horse – Eat a lot
- Flog a dead horse – Waste energy on a lost cause
- High horse – An attitude of moral superiority
- Horsing around – To fool around (in a rough manner)
- So hungry you could eat a horse – Extremely hungry
- You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink – You can’t force someone to do something they don’t want to do
Related Proverbs:
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You are telling a child to be patient as they get ready for an exciting trip.
- A colleague is making an important decision without giving it enough thought or consideration.
- Somebody is trying to push in front of you in a queue.
- Your friend is getting ready to leave a restaurant before you have even finished your dessert!
Example:
- “Don’t call a taxi yet – hold your horses! We haven’t even finished packing!”
Learn More
Look it upHold one’s horsesWiktionaryWhat is Funky English?
FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idioms, slang, phrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Love animal idioms? See our full list of 50 animal idioms in English, with meanings and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wait! Be patient and don’t rush into something.
It’s informal and friendly, but it can sound a little bossy.
Test Yourself
What is FunkyEnglish?
FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idioms, slang, phrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!
