2006-06-07 04:04:00 · 6 answers · asked by bad pirate monkey bonobo boo 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
so far the answers given relate to meaning not origin. i want to know when this first appeared and how. origin. my theory is maybe it came about during horse trading days but i have been unable to confirm this...
2006-06-11 02:06:13 · update #1
SICK AS A HORSE. 'I'm as sick as a horse,' is a vulgar phrase which is used when a person is exceedingly sick. As a horse is larger than a man, it is customary to use it by way of comparison to denote largeness or excess either in a serious or ludicrous way, as horse-chestnut, horse-leech, horse-laugh, &c. We also say, as sick as a dog.
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So, if we take this as a pattern of American idioms, all the 'as a horse' or horse reference 'so hungry could eat a horse' it's one in a long pattern of American phrases that mean 'bigger than man' or 'very.'
2006-06-07 06:47:54 · answer #1 · answered by Leo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Relatively big size of this animal and wide range of connotations of "healthy". Even a very sick horse may be stronger than a healthy human.
2006-06-07 05:11:35 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cause horses are usually healthy?
2006-06-07 04:39:01 · answer #3 · answered by icee85_76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eat as much as you can because horses are beautiful animals.
LC
2006-06-16 20:45:45 · answer #4 · answered by littlebit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Write this guy. maybe he can help you with your answer. (see site below)
2006-06-14 13:32:20 · answer #5 · answered by kimberleibenton 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really know.
2006-06-19 06:18:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋