hobbyhorse
hobbyhorse Lexical Profile
hobbyhorse Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A favorite topic, pet project, or strongly held conviction that someone frequently and enthusiastically discusses.
"Whenever the conversation turns to local politics, my grandfather inevitably gets on his hobbyhorse about property taxes."
A child's toy consisting of a stick with a model of a horse's head at one end, which the child pretends to ride.
"The little boy galloped around the garden, enthusiastically riding his wooden hobbyhorse."
British A traditional costume consisting of a horse figure worn around the waist by a performer in Morris dancing and other English folk festivals.
"During the May Day festival, the dancer wearing the hobbyhorse bounded through the crowd, collecting coins in a wooden bucket."
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the 1550s, formed by combining 'hobby' (a Middle English word for a small horse or pony, derived from the name Hobin) and 'horse'. The meaning evolved from a literal toy to a metaphorical favorite pursuit or topic of conversation.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.