A: How long do I have to wait for such a small problem to be solved?

    B: Hold your horses, sir. Can’t you see that we haven’t finished here?

    Note: This idiom means to “hold on, be patient.” It originated in the United States in the 19th century. In keeping with its American origin, it originally was written as “hold your hosses” and it appears in print that way many times from 1844 onwards. In Picayune (New Orleans) September 1844, we have: Oh, hold your hosses, Squire. There’s no use gettin’ riled, no how. It isn’t until much later, in Chatelaine, 1939, we get the more familiar phrase: Hold your horses, dear.