Idioms and Expressions with Cows and Horses

Horseplay (n) The baby sitter was very upset with the boys' horseplay. They wouldn't stop running around the house, throwing water at each other.

Horse around (v) The teacher yelled at the boys and told them to sit down and stop horsing around. The boys stopped laughing and sat down.

Horse of a different color The politician said he was happy to help poor people who were willing to work. However, people who just wanted money for nothing, he said, that was a horse of a different color.

Horse sense Jakob didn't go to college, but his bosses at the factory were impressed with his horse sense. He seemed to know how to treat the machines and when they were going to break down.

Beating a dead horse Even after her father sold her car, Melissa kept arguing that that she needed it for school. Finally, Mr. Ramsey just told her to stop beating a dead horse; the decision had been made.

Horse trade The union finally got a new agreement for its workers after months and months of horse trading with the company.

Put the cart before the horse When Rodrigo told the counselor that he wanted to go to a good college in America, the counselor said, "Don't put the cart before the horse, Rodrigo, you need to learn English first."

Change horses in midstream The school board was going to build a new school and was raising money to pay for it, but it changed horses in midstream and announced it was going to make the current school larger instead.

Look a gift horse in the mouth Ozzie was very happy with the new guitar, but he asked his father where he bought it. His father told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Straight from the horse's mouth When I wanted to find out about the new things that were happening in the company, I went straight to the horse's mouth; I called the president of the company.

Could eat a horse After Ben ran the marathon, he needed a drink of water. But after about 30 minutes he was so hungry, he said he could eat a horse!

Sacred cow Politicians always talk about cutting budgets, but they never mention cutting Social Security, the system that guarantees money for old people. Social Security is a real sacred cow!

Holy cow! Look at the big fish Stan just caught! Holy cow, that's huge!

Cowed The mayor of the little country town was totally cowed when the president of the United States visited his town. The mayor didn't know what to say or how to act.

Until the cows come home You can complain until the cows come home, but that won't change anything. You have to take the TOEFL and that's final!

Practice