“Horse around”
What it really means, explained simply for children who take language literally.
What the words say
Run and gallop like a horse.
What it really means
Play in a silly, rough way.
Example
Stop horsing around, we have to clean up.
Sayings like this one do not mean what the words say. For a child who reads language literally, common with hyperlexia and autism, that hidden second meaning can be confusing or even worrying. Our free Idiom Explainer shows the literal picture and the real meaning side by side, so the next saying meets curiosity instead of worry. It runs in your browser, nothing is sent anywhere.
More sayings to explore
“Hold your horses”
Wait a moment, slow down.
“A bookworm”
Someone who loves reading a lot.
“Cat got your tongue?”
Why are you so quiet, say something.
“Let the cat out of the bag”
Tell a secret by accident.
“A copycat”
Someone who copies what others do.
“Ants in your pants”
Too excited or restless to sit still.