Question

Hold Your Horses slow down; wait a minute; be patient

Accepted Answer

Hold your horses. Why are you walking so fast? This 19th-century Americanism originated as an instruction to a carriage driver who was letting his team of horses go too fast. By pulling back on the reins, the driver could slow the horses to a stop. This was called "holding the horses." The saying might also have come from harness racing. Rookie drivers often started their horses too soon, and the starter had to yell, "Hold your horses!" Today the phrase refers to slowing down and being patient in whatever you're doing.

Idiom	Hold Your Horses
Example	Hold your horses. Why are you walking so fast?
Meaning	slow down; wait a minute; be patient
Origin	This 19th-century Americanism originated as an instruction to a carriage driver who was letting his team of horses go too fast. By pulling back on the reins, the driver could slow the horses to a stop. This was called "holding the horses." The saying might also have come from harness racing. Rookie drivers often started their horses too soon, and the starter had to yell, "Hold your horses!" Today the phrase refers to slowing down and being patient in whatever you're doing.

Horses Hold Slow Patient Driver Walking Fast Wait