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hobby horse. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hobby horse, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hobby horse in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
hobby horse you have here. The definition of the word
hobby horse will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
hobby horse, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
A child with a hobby horse (
sense 2).
A man with a hobby horse (
sense 4).
Noun
hobby horse (plural hobby horses)
- (originally) The Irish hobby, an extinct breed of horse.
- A child's toy consisting of a (usually wooden or cloth) horse's head mounted on a stick.
- (figuratively) A topic about which someone loves to talk at great length.
Don't ask him about global warming: it's his favourite hobby horse, you'll never get away.
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 250:The squire was now on his hobby-horse, as we say; he had placed the old worn fur cap by his side on the sofa, leaving his bald head and grey hairs exposed.
- A puppet-like costume used in some traditional dances and festivals that gives its wearer the appearance of a man on horseback.
- (cycling, historical) An early bicycle with no pedals or brakes.
- Synonyms: dandy horse, draisienne
2015, Chris Boardman, The Biography of the Modern Bike: The Ultimate History of Bike Design, Hachette, →ISBN, page 10:British users rechristened the baron's invention the hobby horse then the dandy horse, because draisines became very fashionable with Regency gentlemen.
Derived terms
Translations
topic about which someone loves to talk
See also
