Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Idiom: "Straight from the horse's mouth"

What does the idiom "straight from the horse's mouth" mean? Where did it come from? All those years I thought it had to do with the trade of horses and not with racing horses! Fun to unlearn something!

5 comments:

Shel said...

LOL

Actually, when you mentioned looking at the horse's physique before buying, and checking the horse's teeth to make sure the horse is really as healthy as the seller tells you. That really has to do with "don't look a gift horse in the mouth". When someone gives you a horse, don't check its teeth in case you insult the gift-giver.

My definition for "from the horse's mouth" means straight from the correct source... ie. if I hear rumors about any person, it's best to go straight to the person being talked about and finding out the correct information...from THAT person.

So your new definition for "from the horse's mouth" is correct, too. ;-)

Shelley

Anonymous said...

What a new story now "straight from the horse's mouth!" Thank you!

Beaux Arts de Boutjean said...

I have an amusing story about age.
How would one know how old a horse
is? By looking at its teeth. :-)

Back to square one:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/phrases-sayings-shakespeare.html

"straight from the horse's mouth"

Meaning

From the highest authority.

Origin

In horse racing circles tips on which horse is a likely winner circulate amongst punters. The most trusted

authorities are considered to be those in closest touch with the recent form of the horse, i.e. stable lads,

trainers etc. The notional 'from the horse's mouth' is supposed to indicate one step better than even that

inner circle, i.e. the horse itself.

DEAFNAVYHARLEYDAVIDSONUSA said...

very interesting i never watch horse race but i wonder if there is bet win if there is fastest deaf horse flop flop zoom as full dust whoa because deaf horse is focus cause love race to win awsome no hear flop as loudest but deaf horse can feel vibrate make move on lol good one joke or might be true ask them if have one deaf horse could be one by our deaf horse usa. lol and i just wonder straght from horse mouth it might be eat lots of hay as health hay food good for deaf horse lol

Anonymous said...

I just have this to say... I think your mom is hilarious! (and super imaginative) :)