horse of another color

horse of another color

Something completely different or separate, especially in comparison to something else. I've always found math to be easy, but calculus is a horse of a another color.See also: another, color, horse, of

(a) horse of another color

 and a horse of a different colorFig. another matter altogether. I was talking about trees, not bushes. Bushes are a horse of another color. Gambling is not the same as investing in the stock market. It's a horse of a different color.See also: another, color, horse, of

a horse of another (or different) colour

a thing significantly different. 1975 Sam Selvon Moses Ascending Two or three is okay, but when you start bringing in a battalion, it is a horse of a different colour. See also: another, colour, horse, of

a horse of another

/a different color Another matter entirely; something else.See also: another, horse, of

horse of another/different color, a

A different affair altogether. This term was more or less invented by Shakespeare, who in Twelfth Night (2.3) wrote, “My purpose is, indeed, a horse of that colour,” meaning, my aim is indeed something like that. Eventually this was changed to difference rather than likeness, as in Anthony Trollope’s Last Chronicles of Barset (1867): “What did you think of his wife? That’s a horse of another colour altogether.”See also: another, different, horse, of

a horse of another color

An entirely different matter. In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare had a character say, “My purpose is, indeed, a horse of that colour,” meaning “the very thing.” It's not difficult to see how that phrase would be changed to “a horse of another color” to mean the opposite. Other formerly popular equine expressions are “don't change horses in midstream” (stick to your original plan); “get off your high horse” (don't be so proud or smug); “don't beat a dead horse” (don't waste your time); “one-horse town” (a tiny rural community); and “horse show” (derisive college slang term for a debutante cotillion).See also: another, color, horse, of