- Wait a moment; slow down; be patient; don't act or decide too quickly.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from the literal action of pulling back on the reins of horses to stop them or slow them down.
- Became a common expression in the US during the 19th century when horse-drawn transportation was prevalent.
- It's a command to halt or pause sudden movement or haste.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Chill / Chill out
- Slow your roll
- Hang tight
- Pump the brakes
- Simmer down (esp. if someone is agitated)
- Easy there, tiger (playful)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Hold the fuck up (very informal, emphatic stop)
- Calm the fuck down (aggressive, usually directed at agitation)
- Wait the fuck up
Milder/Standard:
- Just a moment, please
- Let's pause for a second
- Please wait
- Not so fast
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Generally used in casual conversation among friends, family, or sometimes colleagues in informal settings.
- Can sound slightly condescending or overly informal if used with superiors or in very formal situations.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The literal meaning about horses is completely irrelevant in modern usage. Focus on the meaning of 'wait', 'slow down', or 'be patient'.
Examples
- Hold your horses! We need to discuss this plan more before we start.
- I know you're excited to open presents, but hold your horses until everyone arrives.
- Whoa, hold your horses, buddy. Let me finish explaining first.
Dialogue
Child: Dad, can we go to the ice cream shop? Now? Please?
Dad: Hold your horses, sport. We need to finish dinner first, then we can think about ice cream.
Child: Aww, okay.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Everyone predicting the election results already... hold your horses, folks! Still lots of votes to count. #election #patience
- Forum Comment: Whoa, hold your horses! Before you jump to conclusions about the bug, did you try clearing your cache?
- Facebook Reply: Thinking of quitting my job tomorrow! Friend: Hold your horses! Maybe sleep on it first?
Response Patterns
- Okay, okay, I'll wait.
- Alright, sorry.
- But why? What's the delay? (Slightly impatient)
- Fine. (Resigned)
- Agreement, mild annoyance, or asking for the reason for delay.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After being told to hold your horses:
- Why do we need to wait?
- What's the hold-up?
- Okay, for how long?
- What needs to happen first?
- Action: The person pauses their action or speech.
- Action: The person asking waits for further instructions or explanation.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a reactive phrase, used to stop someone who is rushing or being impatient.
Intonation
- Stress usually on HOLD and HORSES. HOLD your HORSES.
- Often said with a slightly commanding, cautionary, or sometimes playful tone to curb impatience or haste.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood by all generations. It might sound a little folksy or old-fashioned, but its meaning is clear and it's still commonly used.
Regional Variations
- Very common in American English. Also widely understood and used in other English-speaking regions.