She's got a face like a slapped horse

Posted by ESC on April 12, 2001

In Reply to: She's got a face like a slapped horse posted by Keith on April 12, 2001

:
: : : : I have never heard the expression (in the U.S.) but I love it. Here's my guess: "Horse-faced" means a long, homely face. So if the horse was slapped, it would look even worse.

: : : Hmmm. The way in which it was said was more like "she's looking like a slapped horse at the moment". Not always, just right now. A mood. Meaning?...

: : Ready to bolt? Just a guess.

: Most people slap horses on the rump. Like with a crop, to get them to run faster. But you can imagine slapping a horse in the face and you'd get another kind of expression, and reaction.

I think you've got it. That makes more sense. A face like a slapped (on the rump) horse. Said about someone ready to bolt.