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a horse of a different color
01
a completely different matter in comparison to what one used to deal with
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "a horse of a different color" and when to use it?
The idiom "a horse of a different color" is thought to have originated in the 17th century. It is believed to have come from the horse trade, where horses were often sold with false pedigrees. If a horse turned out to be different from what the buyer had been led to believe, it might be said to be "a horse of a different color." This idiomatic expression is used to describe something that is different from what is expected or usual.
Example
The politician's usual speeches are full of empty promises, but his latest address was a horse of a different color.
This new approach is definitely a horse of a different color.
It was definitely a horse of a different color.
I thought I was going to a boring lecture, but the professor's teaching style was a horse of a different color.
He's definitely a horse of a different color from her usual type.
