English idiom

hold your horses

Register · Informal CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

Used to tell someone to wait or slow down before acting.

Why this phrase?

From a driver reining in horses to stop a carriage.

Example

“Hold your horses; we haven't even checked the price yet.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

sleep on it

to delay a decision until the next day

let the dust settle

To wait until a confusing or troubled situation becomes calm before acting.

the straw that broke the camel's back

the final small addition that makes a situation unbearable

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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