hoʊld jɔːr ˈhɔːrsɪz
Animals
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- To restrain your horses from moving
What does "hold your horses" mean?
- To wait and be patient
- To slow down and not rush
Examples
- Hold your horses! We're not finished yet.
- Hold your horses—let me explain the whole situation.
- Just hold your horses while I find the information.
Origin
From the need to control horses to prevent them from bolting. Used since the 19th century to tell someone to slow down or wait.
How to use it
Friendly way to ask someone to slow down or wait. Often used humorously.
Similar expressions
wait a minute
slow down
be patient
hang on
Opposites
rush ahead
hurry up
don't wait
Related idioms
- kill two birds with one stone
To accomplish two goals with a single action
- let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret accidentally
- elephant in the room
An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss
- don't count your chickens before they hatch
Don't assume success before it actually happens
- fish out of water
Someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in a particular situation
- the early bird gets the worm
Those who act first have the advantage
Use it in a practice answer
Try "hold your horses" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.