# hear something straight from the horse's mouth

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hear-something-straight-from-the-horses-mouth
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

Hear something from the person involved

## Examples

- I want to hear the news straight from the horse's mouth.
- I didn't believe the rumors about the office closing until I heard it straight from the horse's mouth during the meeting.
- Rather than relying on second-hand reports from the media, the investigator insisted on hearing the testimony straight from the horse's mouth to ensure the facts were accurate.

## Origin

From early 20th-century horse racing: the most reliable tip comes from those closest to the horse — and a horse's age can be verified directly from its teeth. (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.