held one's horses
Paused before acting
To hold one's horses is to wait or slow down, often said as an imperative to someone acting too hastily: Hold your horses—we haven't finished counting the votes.
The past tense held one's horses describes having exercised such patience: She held her horses and waited for more information before responding.
- rein inLimit or control
- sit tightWait without acting
- take it easyAdvice to relax
- keep calmRemain emotionally steady
- steady onBritish caution phrase
slow down · easy does it · cool your jets · hang on · prudence · composure · think twice · forethought · deliberation · circumspection · moderation · self-discipline · tactfulness · temperance · wait a minute · bide your time · whoa · not so fast
held one's horsesjumped the gun
Acted prematurely
flew off the handle · bolted · stampeded · pressed on · forged ahead
held one's horsestook the plunge
Made a bold decision
damn the torpedoes · bet the farm · rolled the dice · took a flyer · winged it
held, holds, holding, holdings, holder, holders, holdout, holdover, holdup