VOA词汇掌故2023--'Straight from the Horse's Mouth'

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On today's show, we will be talking about an animal that is as impressive and beautiful as it is useful -- the horse.

Today's expression is straight from the horse's mouth. "Straight from the horse's mouth" is about the way we get information and — with this expression — that means directly.

When we hear something from the source, we can say we heard it first-hand. It is coming from a primary source.

When we use this expression, we can drop the word "straight" if necessary. So, if you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it from the person who has direct personal knowledge of the information.

For example, a co-worker of mine, Andrew, likes to play the piano. But don't take my word for it, let's hear it straight from the horse's mouth.

ANDREW: I really like to play the piano.

Thanks, Andrew!

The opposite of this expression would be through the grapevine. That is a very indirect way to get information.

Now, let's talk about origin. Experts are not sure how this expression started. However, there are two common explanations.

One traditional explanation is about buying horses. Before buying a horse, a possible buyer would look into the horse's mouth. This is because you can tell a bit about a horse's health and age from its gums and teeth.

Another explanation involves horse racing¹. At the horse races, people talk about which horses will win and which ones will lose. The most valuable opinions are from the people who know the horses the best – the riders and trainers. Since you can't ask the horse, these people are the next best thing. "Straight from the horse's mouth" suggests the most knowledgeable² source of information.

So, this expression can also mean from a reliable source. The information is coming from a trustworthy person. It may even be the definitive³ source, meaning the best authority.

Now, let's hear the expression used in another example:

A: Hey, guess what? Stella is moving to Toronto! She's so excited.

B: Are you sure? She just bought a house a year ago.

A: She told me herself last night over dinner.

B: I just can't believe it. I mean, she also just got a promotion⁴ and a raise at her job. It doesn't make sense.

A: Well, whether it makes sense or not, that's what she told me.

B: Maybe you misheard her.

A: I didn't. I heard it straight from the horse's mouth – Stella's!

And that's all the time we have on the show today.

If anyone asks you where you learned this expression, tell them you heard it straight from the horse's mouth – from VOA Learning English.

Words in This Story

primary –adj. happening or coming first

gums –n. (pl.) the tissue inside the mouth around the teeth

reliable –adj. able to be trusted to provide what is needed; dependable

definitive –adj. considered final or settled as the best or most correct

promotion –n. an increase in job rank or position

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。

3 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

4 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。