The word “idiom” has several meanings, but usually refers to an expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the words that make it up. Thus idioms are often colloquial metaphors that are widely understood within a localized culture but may be completely baffling outside those cultures.
Idioms and proverbs can rarely overlap, and while proverbs are usually a short sentence expressing a universal truth, idioms have a figurative meaning different from the literal words used.
When I was a reference librarian one of my favorite sections was “dictionaries,” which included the Oxford English Dictionary (20 volumes), dictionaries of Americanisms, slang and proverbs, and several different dictionaries of idioms.
Few of these books now seem to exist, having faded into the electronic morass, but I managed to buy a used one recently titled: “The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms.” What is astounding in this 729 page collection is that 99.5% of the idioms are completely familiar. For instance I can randomly open the book at say page 179 (a nice prime number) and see the phrase “drop the ball.” Now there are many places in the world that this makes little sense. So somebody dropped a ball, so what? But we know exactly what it means. Or the phrase “He’s in the catbird seat,” which was popularized by baseball announcer Red Barber and appeared in the title of a James Thurber short story. American idioms seem endless: “pie in the sky,” “a leg up,” “other fish to fry.”
If you thought this blog might be a a nuanced revelation, a bolt out of the blue, you may be barking up the wrong tree.
Many idioms concern the use of animals in their structure, particularly horses (as you will see towards the end of this tract). But let’s start with a few foreign animal idioms, including the human animal.
To wear a cat on one’s head.
Origin: Japan
Meaning someone who pretends to be virtuous,
but keeps the darker side hidden.
When hens have teeth.
Origin: France “Quand les poules auront des dents. Meaning: it’s never going to happen. (i.e. when pigs fly)
It’s dark in the attic.
Origin: Finland. Meaning: there’s not much going on upstairs (i.e. in the brain).
Yer heid’s full o’ mince.
Origin: Scotland. Meaning: you are talking a load of nonsense.
Ate the dog.
Origin: Russian. Meaning: being very proficient in something
To be like a goat.
Origin.: Spain. Meaning: getting wild and crazy.
No hair on the tongue.
Origin: Italy. Meaning: to be frank and honest.
A famous animal idiom comes from Jesus who is said to have declared to his disciples during the sermon on the mount: “Don’t cast your pearls before swine.” Thus do not waste good intentions or wisdom on people who will not or can not understand or appreciate them. Often too much attention is paid to squealing swine. Several politicians come to mind.
By far the greatest number of animal idioms (at least in English) have to do with equines. This makes sense when you realize how important horses were for several millennia, i.e. for power, status, work, transportation, in war and in sport.
A most interesting historical idiom is the famous, “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” This phrase goes back to at least 1589 in written literature —(John Haywood’s “A Dialogue conteinying the number in effect of all Prouerbers in the English tongue).”
This figure of speech (cart before the horse) is called a “Hysteron Proteron” which we inherited from the Greeks, in which the the thing that should be second is instead placed first. The notion that things should be opposite of what they should be became somewhat common in English speech and plays, around the 16th century, even in Shakespeare. Phrases like “upside down,” “topsy-turvy,” and “put on your shoes and socks” are examples.
W.C. Fields said that “horse sense” is what keeps horses from betting on people.
“If a horse escapes, don’t close the barn door” and let’s hope “the horse doesn’t come back a different color.”
“Down to the wire” came from the end of a horse race. “Straight from the horse’s mouth” means you got a tip from someone at the top and in the know about a horserace.
Those born around 1900 were familiar with the phrase “I have to see a man about a horse.” My father-in-law (b. 1906) used to say this. It was a way of not explaining what one was leaving to do (such as going to the restroom).
The phrase “got your goat” has to do with horses as well. A goat was the preferred stable mate for an expensive horse because a goat seemed to calm horse anxieties. When you take the goat away, you raise someone’s ire.
Speaking of anxiety, “turning tail” has to do with a horse raising his tail and running off, usually when approached by a stranger with a halter or saddle.
As I glide past yet another birthday, I am reminded of another idiom: “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” This is an ancient saying whose meaning concerns accepting a gift graciously (and not checking on the age or health of the horse). Thus today when I open my mouth to brush my teeth I will not count my teeth or ruminate on their health. I will accept the gift of good health (and many years) graciously, and eat a bowl of oats and an apple for breakfast.
Time to stop horsing around, and with that, I’m outta here.
This is so great. What a fun read. It’s too bad so many squealing swine are stealing our attention right now. Thanks for writing something that would be wasted on them. Thanks for sharing pearls of wisdom.
I work in proximity to my wife in the morning as I'm retired and "work" is morning chores on the computer - balancing the check book, paying bills, downloading photos and putting them in digital storage, and planning afternoon track team practice plans while she has nonstop Zoom calls to be conducted with her colleagues and in the two minutes I read this unique and enjoyable read, I heard at least two classic "cliche" idioms used by her hipster, much younger colleagues. My father-in-law survived a tour of duty with the Marine Corp, but Agent Orange side effects suffered, and a lifetime of smoking Camels complicated his health before he passed just last year, and he was famously "off to see a man about buying a horse" whenever he left the table to grab a quick smoke!