English · Greetings & Phrases
hold your horses
/həʊld jɔː ˈhɔː.sɪz/
[/həʊld jɔː ˈhɔː.sɪz/]
wait; slow down
Intermediatephrase
Definition
Used to tell someone to wait or to slow down and be patient.
Example
Hold your horses! We can't make a decision until we've heard everyone's opinion on the matter.
Hold your horses! We can't make a decision until we've heard everyone's opinion on the matter.
Etymology
A 19th-century American phrase, literally telling a driver to rein in horses before moving off.
How & Where It’s Used
Informal and friendly for urging someone to slow down.