1horse 
/ˈhoɚs/ noun
plural hors·es /ˈhoɚs/ noun 1 [count] : a large animal that is used for riding and for carrying and pulling things
▪ ride/mount a horse — often used before another noun ▪ a horse farm ▪ horse people [=people who raise or have a special interest in horses] — compare colt, filly, foal, gelding, mare, pony, stallion; see also quarter horse, racehorse, workhorse 2 [count] a : a frame used to support a piece of wood while it is being cut with a saw : sawhorse
b : a large piece of equipment used in gymnastics : pommel horse 3 horses [plural] informal a US : horsepower
▪ a car with 275 horses
b the horses : horse races
▪ He lost a lot of money on the horses. 4 [count] US, informal : an athlete who is strong and who helps a team to win — usually plural ▪ a team with the horses to win the pennant [=a team with the good players needed to win the pennant]
▪ ride/mount a horse — often used before another noun ▪ a horse farm ▪ horse people [=people who raise or have a special interest in horses] — compare colt, filly, foal, gelding, mare, pony, stallion; see also quarter horse, racehorse, workhorse
b : a large piece of equipment used in gymnastics : pommel horse
▪ a car with 275 horses
b the horses : horse races
▪ He lost a lot of money on the horses.
a horse of a different color
chiefly US, informal : a very different thing or issue
▪ That's what we'll do when he gets here. But if he doesn't show up…well, that's a horse of a different color.
▪ That's what we'll do when he gets here. But if he doesn't show up…well, that's a horse of a different color.
beat a dead horse (chiefly US) or flog a dead horse
informal 1 : to keep talking about a subject that has already been discussed or decided
▪ I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I still don't understand what happened. 2 : to waste time and effort trying to do something that is impossible
▪ Is it just beating a dead horse to ask for another recount of the votes?
▪ I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I still don't understand what happened.
▪ Is it just beating a dead horse to ask for another recount of the votes?
change horses in midstream
: to choose a different leader or policy during a time when serious problems are being dealt with
▪ a politician whose slogan for reelection is “Don't change horses in midstream”
▪ a politician whose slogan for reelection is “Don't change horses in midstream”
eat a horse
informal ◊Someone who is very hungry can be described as being hungry enough to eat a horse.
▪ I didn't eat today and now I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
▪ I didn't eat today and now I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
from the horse's mouth
informal, of information : from the original source or person and therefore thought to be true
▪ I know it's hard to believe but I heard it (straight) from the horse's mouth.
▪ I know it's hard to believe but I heard it (straight) from the horse's mouth.
hold your horses
informal — used to tell someone to slow down, stop, or wait for a short time ▪ “Hurry up. We need to get going.” “Hold your horses. I'll be ready in a minute.”
look a gift horse in the mouth
: to look in a critical way at something that has been given to you
▪ I noticed the guitar wasn't made of real wood, but I didn't say anything because you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
▪ I noticed the guitar wasn't made of real wood, but I didn't say anything because you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
put the cart before the horse — see 1cart
the wrong horse
◊If you choose/pick/back (etc.) the wrong horse, you choose or support someone or something that is not successful.
▪ The company has been losing money, and many investors are beginning to feel that they may have backed the wrong horse.
▪ The company has been losing money, and many investors are beginning to feel that they may have backed the wrong horse.
— see also charley horse, dark horse, high horse, hobbyhorse, one-horse, rocking horse, sea horse, stalking horse, trojan horse
