hold your horses
Slow down and wait a minute.
Also called hold your hosses.
Updated September 24, 2026
hold your horses pronunciation
/HOHLD yer HOR-siz/
Meaning
Said when somebody is jumping ahead, talking too fast, or getting worked up before the facts are in. It is a spoken hand on the reins: cool it, we are not leaving yet. Still common in rural Southern talk, where the horse picture never felt fancy or old-timey.
How folks use it
- “Hold your horses, I ain't even got my boots on.”
- “Hold your horses and hear me out before you get mad.”
Origin and etymology
American slang from the mid-1800s, first printed as hold your hosses. An early hit shows up in the New Orleans Picayune in 1844, telling a riled squire to wait. The picture is literal farm and wagon talk: keep the team from bolting until you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
Does it only mean wait?
Mostly wait or slow down. It can also mean don't get ahead of yourself before you know the story.