hold your horses
Meaning(s)
1. wait a moment, be patient
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
hold your horses, take a moment to consider what you're doing
Analysis
The idiom 'hold your horses' is an informal way of saying 'wait a minute' or to ask someone to delay. If you hold the reigns on a horse, it doesn't move forward. This phrase is usually said to someone moving or acting too quickly or without caution.
Social Examples (Basic)
- Hold your horses, young man! Before you run out of the house, I want to know where you're going and what time you expect to be back at.
- Hold your horses - are you saying that Jack never got my message? No wonder he is so annoyed with me!
Professional Examples (Basic)
- I know that every member of the team is excited to start working on the project, but just hold your horses until all the necessary funding has been secured.
- Hold your horses, Charlie! Just take a moment to think about what you're doing. I know you're angry, but if you give your boss a piece of your mind while you're in this mood then you will likely lose your job!