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a horse of a different color
01
a completely different matter in comparison to what one used to deal with
Dialect
American
American
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.
Examples
I thought I was going to a boring lecture, but the professor's teaching style was a horse of a different color. She used interactive games and group activities to keep us engaged.
