• Home
  • Reviewers
  • Sell More Books
    • Getting Reviews
    • Success Strategies
    • Tips & Tricks
  • Author Platform
    • Your Website
    • Your List
    • Traffic
    • Social Media
  • Resources
    • Best Books
    • Programs
    • Software
  • Publishing
  • Services

Melanie Rockett

Marketing and Publicity for Authors and Publishers

  • About Melanie
  • Contact
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Gotta See A Man About A Horse

July 3, 2019 by Melanie Leave a Comment

Gotta see a man about a horse.

What A WEIRD Thing To Say!

When I was in my early 20’s — which seems like just a few years ago — but is closer to a century, I was working on a long term contract with a writing partner.  Every now and again he’d get up and quickly exit the office saying …

Gotta see a man about a horse.

I had NO idea what he was talking about,  but he’d usually return within 15 minutes and get back to work.

It took me awhile to figure out he was going to the restroom.

The other day I heard that old phrase once again for the first time in about ten years. Out of curiosity I did a bit of research.  My biggest question being,  how on earth did  “I’ve got to go to the bathroom”  turn into “Gotta see a man about a horse.”

Also according to Wikipedia …

“The earliest confirmed publication is the 1866 Dion Boucicault play Flying Scud in which a character knowingly breezes past a difficult situation saying, “Excuse me Mr. Quail, I can’t stop; I’ve got to see a man about a dog.”

“In a listing for a 1939 revival on the NBC Radio program America’s Lost Plays, Time magazine observed that the phrase is the play’s “claim to fame”.

 

Variations of this “exiting in a hurry” phrase include:

“I’ve got to see a man about a dog.”
“I’ve got to see a man about a horse.”
“I’ve got to see a dog about a man.”

and the shortened version “I’ve got to see a man.”

The interesting thing about words and phrases is how much and how often they change.

Apparently during the US Prohibition Era, the phrase was used when someone left to buy or consume alcohol.

World Wide Words has an additional take.

This has been a useful (and usefully vague) excuse for absenting oneself from company for about 150 years, though the real reason for slipping away has not always been the same. […] From other references at the time [around 1866] there were three possibilities: 1) [the speaker] needed to visit the loo […] 2) he was in urgent need of a restorative drink, presumed alcoholic; or 3) he had a similarly urgent need to visit his mistress.

 

The interesting thing to note is that the phrase was used to refer to something that was, in the day, “unmentionable.  One simply did NOT talk about bathrooms, or mistresses or  drinking, when drinking was illegal.

Now that anyone say anything without even an eyebrow being raised, the phrase is simply dying away.

Too bad, because I much prefer it over …

Gotta go pee.

 

 
 
 
 

Filed Under: Just For FUN Tagged With: man about a horse

where to find newspapers and magazines that review books. There are thousands of publications that review books ... all you have to do is find one that is suitable to YOUR book!

Where To Find Magazines & Newspapers That Review Books

Editorial Reviews should be a major part of your book marketing strategy

Editorial Reviews: How To Get Them, How to Use Them

7 ways to get book reviews

7 Ways To Get Those All Important Reviews For Your Kindle Book

The Power of Image AI in Creating Memorable Book Covers

The Power of Image AI in Creating Memorable Book Covers

How To Get More Book Reviews: Purchase Reviews

How To Get More Book Reviews: Purchase Reviews

ARC reviews can help you sell and promote your books. This is HOW to get them.

ARC or Advance Reader Copy Book Reviews: What, Who, Where and HOW

MailerLite is the perfect email marketing tool for authors

Why MailerLite is the Perfect Email Marketing Tool for Authors

How To Get More Book Reviews: Reviewer Blogs

How To Get More Book Reviews: Reviewer Blogs

drip

How To Use Drip Marketing To Drive Sales

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want MORE?

If you find the information on this site to be of use ... please support me on Ko-fi

FOLLOW US:

2500+ 5-Star Reviews

 

Recent Posts

  • Where To Find Magazines & Newspapers That Review Books
  • Editorial Reviews: How To Get Them, How to Use Them
  • 7 Ways To Get Those All Important Reviews For Your Kindle Book
  • The Power of Image AI in Creating Memorable Book Covers
  • How To Get More Book Reviews: Purchase Reviews
  • ARC or Advance Reader Copy Book Reviews: What, Who, Where and HOW
  • Why MailerLite is the Perfect Email Marketing Tool for Authors
  • How To Get More Book Reviews: Reviewer Blogs
  • How To Use Drip Marketing To Drive Sales
  • Review of BookSirens ARC Service

Categories

Find Book REVIEWERS

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Melanie Rockett is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in