What is the meaning of the phrase ‘hay is for horses’?
A sarcastic response to the word ‘Hey’ used in greeting.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘hay is for horses’?
The precise origin of the phrase ‘hay is for horses’ is yet to be determined. It may be derived from the 1700s, since there were a lot of equine-related phrases that were popular at the time, exemplified in “A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation” by the author Jonathon Swift, published in 1738.
The phrase ‘hay is for horses’ is an American one, that is used in response to the greeting ‘Hey’ and it demonstrates the dislike of such speech, which was deemed by many people at the time to be very informal, too casual, and lacking in sophistication or proper etiquette.
The response ‘Hay is for horses’ can also be used in response to the word ‘Eh?’ which is used when someone didn’t quite catch (or perhaps believe) what has just been said.
The phrase is often used as a way to playfully correct or tease them. Its usage spans various contexts, TV and children’s books through to educational settings and other everyday conversations. It also occasionally pops up in American folk tales and children’s songs and rhymes.
What are some notable uses of the phrase ‘hay is for horses’?
In the book “Hay is for Horses” written by Gloria Rand and published in 1992, the phrase is explored in a story about a girl visiting her grandparents’ farm.
The phrase has been used in film to depict playful banter between characters. For instance, in the film “Matilda” released in 1996, based on the book by Roald Dahl, the phrase is used in a classroom setting to correct a student who starts a question with “Hey.” Thus, this old phrase can still have cultural relevance today.
