# charley horse

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/charley-horse
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A muscle cramp, usually a strong one, in the thigh, leg, arm, or core.

## Examples

- I got a charley horse in my leg last night.
- Swimming in cold water often gives me a charley horse.
- She woke up with a painful charley horse and had to walk it off.
- If you do not drink enough water before your workout, you might develop a painful charley horse in your calf.
- The soccer player had to pause the game because a charley horse made his thigh muscle feel like a hard knot.
- The runner collapsed mid-race, clutching his thigh where a sudden charley horse had seized the muscle.

## Origin

The term is perhaps rooted in 1880s American slang, potentially originating with the baseball pitcher Charlie "Old Hoss" Radbourn. Radbourn was noted for his tendency to suffer from muscle cramps during play, and it is suggested that his nickname and frequent physical discomfort provided the basis for the expression. Whether the association was a tribute to the man's endurance or a comment on his sudden immobility remains a matter of some uncertainty. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.