hobbyhorse

noun

hob·by·horse ˈhä-bē-ˌhȯrs How to pronounce hobbyhorse (audio)

: a figure of a horse fastened about the waist in the morris dance

: a dancer wearing this figure

obsolete : buffoon

: a stick having an imitation horse's head at one end that a child pretends to ride

: rocking horse

: a toy horse suspended by springs from a frame

: a topic to which one constantly reverts

: hobby entry 2

Did you know?

The hobbyhorse is a toy of yesteryear, dating back to a homespun era predating automobiles. In the 1400s, the word hobby could refer to a real-life horse of small or average size. It soon came to refer to the horse costume worn by a person participating in a morris dance or a burlesque performance, and then, later, to the child's toy. Another meaning of hobbyhorse was "a favorite pursuit or pastime"; our modern noun hobby (referring to an activity that one does for pleasure when not working) was formed by shortening this word. From pastime, the meaning of hobbyhorse was extended to "a subject to which one repeatedly returns." The sense is typically encountered as part of such phrases as "get on one's hobbyhorse" or "ride one's hobbyhorse."

Example Sentences

Once he gets on his hobbyhorse and starts talking about taxes, you can't get him to discuss anything else. She's been riding that hobbyhorse for months.

Recent Examples on the Web Most of the criticism is baseless tripe hatched to advance Trump or some other Fox News hobbyhorse, though there have been plenty of legitimate reasons to bash MSNBC and CNN over the years.

Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 19 July 2022 Speculation about why this might be so tends to reflect the hobbyhorse of the speculator.

Zoë Heller, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 Donbas has served variously as a bargaining chip with Western powers, a cudgel to hold over them, a hobbyhorse for the home audience and an albatross.

New York Times, 16 Jan. 2022 In Finland, hobbyhorse riding, according to The Wall Street Journal, is a growing sport that involves young girls riding fake horses, made of cloth or plastic horse heads attached to sticks.

Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, 9 May 2021 She has been mentioned as a potential primary challenger in 2022 to Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader — an idea that is a particular hobbyhorse of Mr. Trump’s.

Mark Leibovich, New York Times, 4 May 2020 There are also the hobbyhorses: school choice (pro), the mayor (con), bike lanes (rabidly averse), pervy teachers languishing in rubber rooms (averse to the point of obsession).

Sadie Stein, Town & Country, 30 May 2017 Girls have always loved horses, but in lieu of a real equine companion, maybe a hobbyhorse will do.

Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Apr. 2018 But if the abolition of ICE becomes not just a left hobbyhorse but a core part of what progressives will ask of their candidates for 2020, that’s going to be a harder choice for Democratic politicians to make.

Dara Lind, Vox, 19 Mar. 2018 See More

单词	hobbyhorses
释义	hobbyhorse noun hob·by·horse ˈhä-bē-ˌhȯrs 1 a : a figure of a horse fastened about the waist in the morris dance b : a dancer wearing this figure 2 obsolete : buffoon 3 a : a stick having an imitation horse's head at one end that a child pretends to ride b : rocking horse c : a toy horse suspended by springs from a frame 4 a : a topic to which one constantly reverts b : hobby entry 2 Did you know? The hobbyhorse is a toy of yesteryear, dating back to a homespun era predating automobiles. In the 1400s, the word hobby could refer to a real-life horse of small or average size. It soon came to refer to the horse costume worn by a person participating in a morris dance or a burlesque performance, and then, later, to the child's toy. Another meaning of hobbyhorse was "a favorite pursuit or pastime"; our modern noun hobby (referring to an activity that one does for pleasure when not working) was formed by shortening this word. From pastime, the meaning of hobbyhorse was extended to "a subject to which one repeatedly returns." The sense is typically encountered as part of such phrases as "get on one's hobbyhorse" or "ride one's hobbyhorse." Synonyms avocation hobby pursuit recreation See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Once he gets on his hobbyhorse and starts talking about taxes, you can't get him to discuss anything else. She's been riding that hobbyhorse for months. Recent Examples on the Web Most of the criticism is baseless tripe hatched to advance Trump or some other Fox News hobbyhorse, though there have been plenty of legitimate reasons to bash MSNBC and CNN over the years. Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 19 July 2022 Speculation about why this might be so tends to reflect the hobbyhorse of the speculator. Zoë Heller, The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 Donbas has served variously as a bargaining chip with Western powers, a cudgel to hold over them, a hobbyhorse for the home audience and an albatross. New York Times, 16 Jan. 2022 In Finland, hobbyhorse riding, according to The Wall Street Journal, is a growing sport that involves young girls riding fake horses, made of cloth or plastic horse heads attached to sticks. Eliza Huber, refinery29.com, 9 May 2021 She has been mentioned as a potential primary challenger in 2022 to Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader — an idea that is a particular hobbyhorse of Mr. Trump’s. Mark Leibovich, New York Times, 4 May 2020 There are also the hobbyhorses: school choice (pro), the mayor (con), bike lanes (rabidly averse), pervy teachers languishing in rubber rooms (averse to the point of obsession). Sadie Stein, Town & Country, 30 May 2017 Girls have always loved horses, but in lieu of a real equine companion, maybe a hobbyhorse will do. Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Apr. 2018 But if the abolition of ICE becomes not just a left hobbyhorse but a core part of what progressives will ask of their candidates for 2020, that’s going to be a harder choice for Democratic politicians to make. Dara Lind, Vox, 19 Mar. 2018 See More Word History Etymology hobby small light horse, from Middle English hoby, hobyn, perhaps from Hobbin, nickname for Robert or Robin First Known Use circa 1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition hobbyhorse noun hob·by·horse ˈhä-bē-ˌhȯrs : a stick that has an imitation horse's head and that a child pretends to ride hobbyhorses noun plural of hobbyhorse as in pursuits an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure oil painting became the hobbyhorse of her long years of retirement Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance pursuits hobbies sports amusements avocations entertainments recreations pastimes diversions distractions relaxations
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hobbyhorse

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

noun