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Where did the phrase 'she is trying to get your goat' come from and what does it mean?In: Idioms and Slang |
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Answer
I believe the expression “to get your goat” has it’s origins in horse racing.
Race horses are very high-strung animals. Goats are often used as companion animals, to keep a horse calm.
Someone wanting to fix a race would slip into the barn the night before the race, steal the goat, then an uspet, distracted horse would run a bad race.
Hence, if you are upset and not at your best, it is said that “someone has gotten your goat.”
First answer by Backward. Last edit by Backward. Contributor trust: 131 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 90 [recommend question]
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