Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to hold one's horses

to hold one's horses

1 7.2
Tell someone to wait and be patient
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : esperar un momento
  • Just a minute, hold your horses.
  • let's hold our horses

Examples

  • - Well, just hold your horses, Jack.

    Blacktop (2000)

  • Will you please hold your horses?

    To All a Goodnight (1980)

  • Hold your horses, or I'll knock you to kingdom come.

    Look Who's Talking (1989)

  • Just, hold your horses and let’s wait for the ratings, okay?

    Eating Miss Campbell (2022)

  • Hold one's horses; we need to finalize the plan before making any decisions.

  • Just hold one's horses for a moment while I gather all the necessary information.

  • Please hold one's horses and let me explain the situation before you react.

Synonyms

to hold on
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
∞ 1.3

To wait for a short time during a phone call

urges waiting or slowing down more generally rather than briefly
to hang on
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
111 3.4

To wait a short time or keep going through a hard time

targets slowing impulsive action rather than enduring hardship
to sit tight
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
80 3.7

To wait patiently and not act

asks for slowing down before acting rather than staying put
to hold on a second
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
75 1.2

Ask someone to wait for a short time

tells someone to wait or slow down without limiting time
not so fast
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
42 5.8

Tell someone to slow down when they act too quickly

asks the same slowing down but in more idiomatic animal imagery
to hang tight
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
22 7.4

Wait patiently and stay calm during a delay

focuses more on stopping quick action rather than steady patience
to wait your turn
vsto hold one's horses
17 2.0

Be patient and let others go before you until it is your turn

is used more broadly to tell someone to slow down now
to hold back
vsto hold one's horses
16 3.5

Wait before doing something because you feel unsure

is a direct instruction to others to slow down or pause
to hold the phone
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
8 8.2

Tell someone to wait so you can check or explain something

means the same pause but without implying reconsideration
to keep your pants on
vsto hold one's horses
  • Informal
1 8.6

Stay calm and be patient

focuses more on stopping quick action than calming excitement
woa
vsto hold one's horses
  • US
1 9.9

A shout telling a horse to stop or slow down

expresses the same slowing idea but aimed at people in speech

Antonyms

to hurry
∞ 1.0

To move or act quickly because there is little time

How Patient

to wait
∞ 1.0
to hold one's horses
  • Informal
1 7.2
to hold on a second
  • Informal
75 1.2
to hurry
∞ 1.0
to rush in
36 3.1

Surface Forms

hold one's horses infinitive
holding one's horses present participle
holds one's horses third person singular
held one's horses past
held one's horses past participle

Morphology

hold + one's + horse

The literal components ('hold' = restrain; 'horses' = animals/vehicles) create a clear image of restraining animals, which can be mapped to asking someone to slow down or wait, so learners who know the words may often infer the intended meaning. However, the shift from a literal action on animals to a conventionalized directive to be patient is metaphorical and culturally grounded, so the meaning is not fully predictable for all B1 learners.

Etymology

The idiom hold one's horses comes from the picture of a rider or coach driver using the reins to hold the horses back so they do not rush forward. So today it means 'wait' or 'slow down'.