HORSE FEATHERS Meaning and
Definition
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Horse feathers, typically used as a colloquialism or slang term, refers to something that is deemed nonsensical or highly improbable. It is an idiomatic expression often used to convey disbelief or to dismiss something as nonsense or ridiculous. While its literal meaning might refer to the feathers of a horse, in practice, it serves as an exaggeration to highlight the absurdity or incredibility of a situation, statement, or idea.
The term "horse feathers" can be traced back to the early 20th century, particularly in American English, where it gained popularity. It shares similarities with other informal phrases like "balderdash," "poppycock," or "nonsense," but carries a certain whimsical quality that captures the essence of its idiomatic usage.
Due to its informal nature, horse feathers is commonly used in casual conversations or in humorous contexts where someone wants to express disbelief or to mock something as being devoid of any credibility or sense. It can be used as an exclamation, often followed by an accompanying humorous gesture or tone of voice, to reinforce the idea that what was stated is preposterous and should not be taken seriously.
Overall, horse feathers serves as a colorful and playful way to express skepticism or derision towards something that is considered implausible, illogical, or far-fetched.
Common Misspellings for HORSE FEATHERS
- horse feathezs
- horse feathevs
- horse featheps
- horse feathess
- horse feather3
- horse featherc
- horse featherq
- h orse feathers
- ho rse feathers
- hor se feathers
- hors e feathers
- horse f eathers
- horse fe athers
- horse fea thers
- horse feat hers
- horse feath ers
- horse feathe rs
- horse feather s
Etymology of HORSE FEATHERS
The term "horse feathers" is a colloquial expression that originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It is used as a euphemism for "nonsense", "balderdash", or "rubbish".
The word "horse" in "horse feathers" refers to the animal, while "feathers" symbolizes something worthless or inconsequential. The combined phrase suggests an absurdity or something so improbable that it is as likely as finding feathers on a horse.
While the exact origin of the term is uncertain, it gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s as a mild expletive in American slang, primarily used to express disbelief or to dismiss an implausible claim. Over time, it became an idiomatic expression used in various contexts to convey incredulity or to denote something as absurd or untrue.
