Straight from the horse's mouth

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Meaning

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Origin

From 19th-century Britain, tied to horse racing; buyers checked a horse's mouth for age, slang by the 1890s for direct tips. A 1917 racing paper uses it for a jockey's word.

Variants

  • Horse's mouth
  • From the horse

Usage Examples

  • I got it straight from the horse's mouth; he's quitting.
  • She heard it straight from the horse's mouth; no layoffs.
  • That's straight from the horse's mouth; the boss said it.

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