# straight from the horse's mouth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/straight-from-the-horses-mouth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Directly from the source; firsthand.

## Examples

- I heard the news straight from the horse's mouth.
- He gets the wedding details straight from the horse's mouth.
- She told me she was quitting, so I heard it straight from the horse's mouth.
- I did not believe the store was closing until the owner told me straight from the horse's mouth.
- Instead of listening to office gossip about the bonus, wait to hear the facts straight from the horse's mouth during the meeting.
- To avoid any rumors, the director addressed the staff directly, ensuring they received the policy changes straight from the horse's mouth.

## Origin

From British horse-racing circles, the idiom emerges from the logic of the betting ring, where the quality of a tip is measured by its proximity to the source. A spectator might speculate and a rider might exaggerate, but the most reliable intelligence would theoretically issue from the horse itself. By the early 20th century, the phrase was established as the standard expression for information obtained directly from the highest authority.

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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.