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  2. "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" is a proverb and nursery rhyme, first recorded about 1628 in a collection of Scottish proverbs, which suggests if wishing could make things happen, then even the most destitute people would have everything they wanted.

  3. What's the origin of the phrase 'If wishes were horses, beggers would ride'? This proverb is recorded in English from quite an early date. A version of the expression appeared in the published works of William Camden in the 17th century.

  4. Feb 27, 2024 · "If wishes were horses" is a phrase that suggests if wishing alone could make things happen, everyone would have everything they want. It often points out that just wishing or hoping for something is not enough to make it a reality.

  5. Meaning: It is not enough to wish for something, you have to take action to make it happen. Background: The oldest existing record of this expression is in Proverbs in Scots, collected and arranged by James Carmichaell: And wishes were horses pure (poor) men wald ryde.

    • Meaning
    • Example Sentences
    • Origin
    To wish for things does not yield to anything.
    If just hoping and wishing for things would make it happen then even the poorest of all people would have everything that they desire.
    One should work in order to get things instead of wishing for them.
    She told me she wanted to become Miss Universe and I said, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride“. How else was I to react to such an absurd thing?
    I was day dreaming about being the king of the world when my wife reminded me that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

    In 1605 William Camden’s literary work ‘Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine’ used this phrase although in a slightly different version to what it is right now. James Carmichael used another version in 1628, John Ray used another modified version in 1670 and finally the version that is closest to the one in use today was introduced by J...

  6. What does the idiom 'If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride' mean? With a clear, concise definition and usage examples, discover this idiom's meaning and usage in the English language. Explore with us today!

  7. If wishes were horses means that simply wishing for things does not make them happen; one must work actively for the things one wants; if wishes came true, then even the poorest people would have everything they want and need.

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