horse
gb/hˈɔɹs/ us/hˈɔɹs/
A1
English
~ 900
ló, kápás ló, ugróló, hülyéskedik, hancúrozik
NOUN
A1
1
ló
A1
Usage pattern:
to ride a horse
The farmer kept three horses in the stable.
A gazda három lovat tartott az istállóban.
She learned to ride a horse when she was seven.
Hétévesen tanult meg lovagolni.
Horses were once the main form of transport.
We saw wild horses running across the plain.
The knight mounted his horse and rode away.
Learner examples
I can ride a horse.
Tudok lovagolni.
The horse is in the field.
A ló a mezőn van.
He has a black horse.
They use horses on the farm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'horse' with 'pony'—a pony is a small breed, not a young horse.
Meaning
Large animal used for riding or work
Collocations
ride a horse
|horse racing
|wild horse
|horse farm
|horse show
Synonyms
steed (More literary or poetic term for a horse, often implying nobility or speed.)
Antonyms
pony (A smaller breed of horse, not a true opposite but contrasting in size.)
Themes
animals
|transportation
|sports
|daily_life
Definition
A big animal with four legs that people ride or use to carry things.
A large, strong, domesticated mammal with hooves, used for riding, racing, and carrying or pulling loads.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
2
The gymnast ran toward the horse and vaulted over it.
A tornász nekifutott az ugrólónak, és átugrott rajta.
He practiced his routine on the pommel horse.
A kápás lovon gyakorolta a versenygyakorlatát.
The coach adjusted the height of the vaulting horse.
Learner examples
He jumps over the horse in gymnastics.
Torna közben átugrik az ugrólón.
The gymnast uses the pommel horse.
A tornász a kápás lovat használja.
She trains on the vaulting horse.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'horse' in this sense refers to an animal; here it means gym equipment.
Meaning
Gymnastics equipment shaped like a horse
Collocations
vaulting horse
|pommel horse
Synonyms
pommel horse (Specific term for the men's gymnastics apparatus with handles.)
Themes
sports
|fitness
Definition
A piece of gym equipment with a flat top used for jumping over or doing tricks.
A padded apparatus used in gymnastics for vaulting or pommel exercises.
VERB
B1
INFORMAL
3
hülyéskedik
B1
hancúrozik
B2
Usage pattern:
to horse around with [someone]
The kids were horsing around in the backyard.
A gyerekek az udvaron hancúroztak.
Stop horsing around and do your homework.
Ne hülyéskedj, inkább csináld meg a házi feladatodat.
They horsed around until they were out of breath.
Learner examples
The boys horse around in the park.
A fiúk a parkban hancúroznak.
Don't horse around in class.
Ne hülyéskedj az órán.
We horse around after school.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'horse' here refers to the animal; it's an idiomatic verb meaning to play roughly.
Meaning
Playfully push or handle roughly
Collocations
horse around
|horsing around
Synonyms
mess around (Similar casual play or wasting time, not always physical.)
Antonyms
behave (Opposite in the sense of acting properly and calmly.)
Themes
relationships
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
To play in a rough and silly way by pushing or holding someone.
To engage in rough, playful physical activity, often without serious intent.
Grammar
Dictionary form
horse
IPA
GB/hˈɔɹs/
US/hˈɔɹs/
Syllables & stress
horse (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (horse)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: horse
- Plural: horse, horses
Verb
- Base: horse
- 3rd Person Singular: horses
- Present Participle: horsing
- Past: horsed
Word family
Expressions
a dark horse
1/ə dˈɑɹk hˈɔɹs/
idiom
Unexpected winner or success
A person who does well even though people did not expect them to.
Examples
- He was a dark horse in the competition and ended up winning first place.
- Nobody knew much about her, but she turned out to be a dark horse in politics.
back the wrong horse
1/bˈæk ðə ɹˈɔŋ hˈɔɹs/
idiom
Support likely failure
To choose or support someone who will not win or do well.
Examples
- We backed the wrong horse when we invested in that company.
- He backed the wrong horse by supporting the losing candidate.
hold your horses
1/hˈoʊld jˈʊɹ hˈɔɹsɪz/
idiom
informal
Wait and be patient
Wait and don't do anything too fast.
Examples
- Hold your horses! We haven't finished packing yet.
- I know you're excited, but hold your horses until we get more information.
horse around
1/hˈɔɹs ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
informal
Play roughly or act silly
To play in a rough and silly way.
Examples
- Stop horsing around and finish your work.
- The children were horsing around in the living room.
straight from the horse's mouth
1/stɹˈeɪt fɹˈʌm ðə hˈɔɹsɪz mˈaʊθ/
idiom
informal
Directly from original source
Information that comes from the person who knows most about it.
Examples
- I heard it straight from the horse's mouth—she's getting promoted.
- If you want to know the truth, ask him. Get it straight from the horse's mouth.