Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: hobby 'small horse' (14-19 centuries) (probably from Hobbin, a man's name, from Robin) + horse

hobbyhorse

 noun
     
Related topics: Toys
hob‧by‧horse [countable]
1 a subject that someone has strong opinions about and that they talk about too much:
I'm afraid safe driving isn't Jaqui's only hobbyhorse.
be on your hobbyhorse
Vicky was on her hobbyhorse again.
2DHT an old-fashioned toy made of a horse's head on a stick
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary