Phrase Horse Means Eslpod English Flying Run Money

Many popular phrases in modern English come from horse racing, although American speakers may be unaware of the phrases' "origins" (where something comes from or how something was first used).

For example, the phrase "off to a flying start" describes beginning something with a lot of energy, without a gradual start: "Their new business is off to a flying start, but I wonder how long it can last." And the phrase "off and running" has a similar meaning: "The new campaign should be off and running by early spring."

The phrase "a run for (one's) money" means a challenge, even if no money is actually involved. Someone might say, "That cold really gave me a run for my money, but fortunately, I'm feeling much better now."

The phrase "to back the wrong horse" means to support something that loses or fails. "Yes, we were backing the wrong horse when we advocated for opening an office in North Dakota, but this time, we're sure expansion is the right move." The phrase "to beat a dead horse" means to do something that is "futile" (pointless because it cannot work or succeed): "Every time you buy her flowers or chocolates and sing outside her window, you're just beating a dead horse. She doesn't want to date you anymore."

Finally, the phrase "to win by a nose" means to win when the second-place person is right behind, in a very "close race" (a competition that almost ends in a tie, with no real winner), just as a horse race could be won if one horse is just a nose's length in front of the next horse: "Wow, that was close! The basketball team won by a nose in the last minute of the game."