hobby-horse

A child rides a hobby-horse around the living room.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A child's toy: "hobby-horse" refers to a stick with a horse's head, used as a toy by children who pretend to ride it.
   • A figure in a carnival: It can also denote a wicker horse used in morris dancing or traditional festivals.
   • A favorite topic or obsession: Figuratively, "hobby-horse" means a subject or idea that someone frequently dwells on or promotes, often to the point of obsession.

Usage Examples

• Toy:
  • The little boy galloped around the yard with his hobby-horse. (He ran while holding a stick with a horse's head.)
• Carnival figure:
  • The dancers carried a hobby-horse in the May Day parade. (A wicker horse was part of the traditional performance.)
• Figurative (favorite topic):
  • His hobby-horse is the need for better public transportation. (He constantly talks about improving buses and trains.)

Advanced Usage

• "to ride one's hobby-horse": to talk at length about one's favorite subject.

  • Whenever we discuss politics, she rides her hobby-horse about tax reform. (She repeatedly brings up the same topic.)

• "to be on one's hobby-horse": to be preoccupied with a particular idea.

  • He is on his hobby-horse about the dangers of social media. (He is fixated on that concern.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hobby (n): an activity done regularly for pleasure in one's spare time.
  • Gardening is her favorite hobby. (She enjoys it in her free time.)
• Horseplay (n): rough, boisterous play.
  • The teacher warned the students against horseplay in the hallway. (No rough games or running.)

Synonyms

• Toy horse: a child's plaything shaped like a horse.
• Obsession: a persistent, often excessive interest in a subject.
• Fixation: an unhealthy attachment to a particular idea.

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

• Ride a hobby-horse: to talk about a favorite subject excessively.
  • He will ride his hobby-horse about environmental issues all evening. (He will keep discussing it at length.)
• Get on one's hobby-horse: to start discussing a pet topic.
  • Don't get him on his hobby-horse about grammar; he'll never stop. (Do not let him begin that conversation.)