Standing tall

Posted by Bookworm on November 26, 2002

In Reply to: Standing tall in the saddle posted by R. Berg on November 26, 2002

: : does anyone know meaning of expression "standing tall in the saddle?" Doesn't someone normally sit in the saddle? Thanks Guy Andrews

: It means having an air of heroic masculine dignity. Yes, people normally sit in the saddle, but they occasionally stand in the stirrups. The expression can be used without "standing": "After reading Western novels all weekend, I felt pretty tall in the saddle myself."

I've only heard the phrase as "standing tall". Is "in the saddle" the rest of it? Are there other endings?

• Standing tall R. Berg 11/26/02