Horses

1. To get off/on your high horse (also to climb off/on your high horse)

                To stop/put on a superior or arrogant manner

                Seated high up on a horse, you automatically have to look down to talk to people who are walking. Whether you mean it or not, those looking up can easily assume you are talking down to them in a rather snooty manner.

                Another factor is that horses have always been expensive and therefore the province of the rich – a group not universally noted for their humility.

Example: I wish that politician would get off his high horse and deal with real people and real problems.

2. To change horses (in) mid-stream

                To change your ideas, focus in the middle of a project, race or other venture.

               

                The appealing image of trying to swap horses without getting soaked has undoubtedly kept this phrase in the public eye.

Example: The company is stuck with this software because it’s too tough to change horses in midstream.

3. To flog a dead horse

                To try and revive interest in a subject that nobody cares about OR to talk about something that has been discussed at great deal.

                Imagine in your mind this horrible image of beating a dead horse in order to make it work.

Example: Whether you like it or not, Kim has been promoted. So stop flogging a dead horse, will you?

4. To be on your hobby horse

                To talk about a favourite subject – usually one that bores everyone else because you’ve talked about it too much!

Example: Warn Syed not to mention car race or we’ll have Grandpa on his hobby horse again.

5. Horses for courses

                Something you say to mean that what is easy for some, is difficult for others.

                Trainers test a horse for its stamina, speed and other attributes and then decide what sort of races they think the horse will do well at. Many people also believe that certain horses do better at particular tracks.

Example: You can’t switch from accounts to customer service because our CEO believes in horses for courses.

6. To pony up

                To pay. Usually used in the sense of paying an outstanding bill or debt.

                This expression is linked to the late 1790s where a pony was slang for 25 guineas, an English gold coin.

Example: It’s George’s turn to pony up for this round.

7. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

                It is unwise to be ungrateful for a gift. Also a warning that it is rude to evaluate a gift.

                Based on the fact that equestrians can tell how old (and therefore how valuable) a horse is by looking at its teeth.

Example: When Salina got a whopping great Hari Raya bonus she didn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and suggest they have overpaid her.

 Adapted from: Mind Our English, Star2, Wednesday 27 July 2011