Why does hold your horses mean to be patient and wait?

The phrase "hold your horses" comes from the days of horse-drawn carriages and wagons. Imagine a horse pulling a carriage, ready to go. If the driver suddenly urges the horse to go faster, the horse might get spooked and bolt, potentially causing an accident.

To prevent this, the driver would need to hold the reins tight to control the horse's speed and prevent it from running off. This is where the phrase comes from:

* "Hold your horses" literally meant "hold onto the reins of your horse" to prevent it from bolting.

Over time, the phrase became a metaphor for slowing down and being patient. Just like a driver needs to hold the reins to keep the horse from rushing off, we sometimes need to hold back our impatience and wait for the right moment.

So, the phrase "hold your horses" is a reminder to calm down, take a breath, and wait before acting impulsively or rushing into something.