When we hear someone say he had such and such a piece of information “straight from the horse’s mouth,” we know that he means that he received it from the highest authority, from the one person whose testimony is beyond question.
The expression comes from horse racing and has to do with the age of the racers.
Scientists tell us that the most certain evidence of the age of a horse is by examination of its teeth, especially those of the lower jaw. The first of its permanent teeth, those in the center of the jaw, do not begin to appear until the animal is two and a half years old.
A year later the second pair, those alongside the first, begin to come through, and when the animal is between its fourth and fifth year, the third pair appears,
Thus, no matter what an owner may say of the horse’s age, by an examination of its lower jaw an experienced person can get his information at first hand, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Related Posts
-
How Much Cleaner Is a Dog’s Mouth Than a Human’s Mouth and Is a Cat’s Mouth Dirty?
Whether it's a dog, cat, human or cow mouth, they are all probably pretty similar in terms of cleanliness or dirtiness. It's certain that there's not a whole lot of difference as far…
-
Where does the phrase “hold your horses” come from and What does “hold your horses” mean?
The phrase "hold your horses" means: Don't be in too great a hurry; take it easy; watch your step; keep your shirt on; be patient; control your temper. This homely admonition traces back…
-
Where did horses in North America come from and did Plains Indians always ride horses?
Small prehistoric horses once lived in North America, but they died out about 10,000 years ago. The Plains Indians did not have the type of horse we know now until Spaniards brought them…
-
What does the phrase “to swap horses in midstream” mean and Where does it come from?
The homely American phrase "to swap horses in midstream" is just our way of saying "to change leaders (generals, presidents, or what have you) during the course of an engagement (or at the…
-
Where does the saying “to look a gift horse in the mouth” come from and What does it mean?
The expression or proverb "to look a gift horse in the mouth" is so old that its origin cannot be determined. It has been traced to the writings of St. Jerome, one of…
-
Where did the expression “to make one’s mouth water” come from and What does it mean?
The expression "to make one's mouth water" means to anticipate something with great eagerness. Literally, and the original sense, one referred to the actual drooling that one experiences over the prospects of sinking…
