Why do people say horsing around?
Table of Contents
Why do people say horsing around?
When people horse around, they’re silly and boisterous, fooling around in a physical way. Horse around probably comes from horseplay, and it in turn came from the old-fashioned verb horse, which was once used to mean “play crazy jokes on.” Experts aren’t sure how it came into use, or what horses have to do with it.
What is the non literal meaning of horsing around?
Slang. To engage in frivolous or idle activity; goof off: Stop horsing around and get to work!
Where did the saying horseplay come from?
Horseplay is vaguely dangerous — someone could get hurt, and that’s why you might hear a teacher, babysitter, or parent yelling, “Hey, kids! Knock off the horseplay!” The origin of this word is a bit vague, although it’s known to date from the 1500s, probably from the sense of a horse as a heavy, strong, rough animal.
What is the idiom of horse around?
horse around. Indulge in frivolous activity or play. For example, The boys were horsing around all afternoon. This term presumably alludes to horseplay, which has meant “rough or boisterous play” since the late 1500s. [
What is the meaning of cat got your tongue?
Definition of cat got your tongue —used to ask someone why he or she is not saying anything “You’ve been unusually quiet tonight,” she said.
What is no horse play?
noisy, physically active behavior, esp. when people push each other as a joke: No running or horseplay in the halls.
What is the meaning of the idiom open a whole new can of worms?
Definition of open a can of worms : to create a complicated situation in which doing something to correct a problem leads to many more problems Our boss is reluctant to change the policy now because she doesn’t want to open a can of worms.
What does horsing around mean in the Dictionary?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. horse around Indulge in frivolous activity or play. For example, The boys were horsing around all afternoon. This term presumably alludes to horseplay, which has meant “rough or boisterous play” since the late 1500s.
What is the meaning of the idiom horse around?
Meaning of Idiom ‘Horse (horsing) Around’. The idiom horse around or horsing around is probably related to ‘horseplay’ which has long been a term meaning rough, noisy and rowdy play.
What is the meaning of quit horsing around?
To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting; to fool around. Quit horsing around and do your book already—it’s due tomorrow! To play or fool around in a rough or rowdy manner. Boys, quit horsing around before someone gets hurt! Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Where does the word ‘horse’ come from?
Although the word ‘horse’ has long referred to anything big, strong and coarse (consider horseradish), the origin here is more direct, as it relates to how young horses play together by running back and forth and pretending to fight.