plough horse
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A plough horse is a horse specifically bred, trained, and used for the purpose of pulling a plough, a farming implement used to turn over soil in preparation for sowing seeds.
Usage
The term is used to describe a type of working horse, emphasizing its function in agriculture. It is a compound noun where "plough" specifies the tool the horse is used with. * The farmer relied on his sturdy plough horse to prepare the fields each spring. * Before tractors, the plough horse was essential to farming.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe a person who performs hard, steady, and unglamorous work.
- In the office, he was the plough horse, handling the tedious but essential reports that no one else wanted to do.
Variants and Related Words
- Plow horse: The American English spelling variant.
- Draft horse (or Draught horse): A broader category for large, powerful horses bred for heavy labor, such as pulling ploughs, carts, or wagons. A plough horse is a type of draft horse.
- Workhorse: A more general term for any animal or machine used for heavy labor. It can also be applied metaphorically to people or reliable objects.
Synonyms
- Draft horse
- Workhorse (in the literal sense)
- Farm horse
Antonyms
- Racehorse
- Riding horse
- Show horse
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To work like a horse/draft horse: To work very hard and tirelessly.
- She worked like a horse to finish the project on time. (This idiom uses the general concept of a working horse, which includes the plough horse).
Noun
- a horse used to pull a plow