Raring to go
Meaning
To be extremely eager and enthusiastic to start an activity or undertake a task.
Origin
The vivid image behind "raring to go" springs directly from the stable, capturing the raw energy of a horse. The verb "to rare" (or "rear") describes a horse standing on its hind legs, a powerful display of excitement, impatience, or sheer readiness. This posture, with muscles coiled and hooves pawing the air, perfectly symbolizes an intense desire to move forward. Over time, this evocative equestrian imagery galloped out of the paddock and into common speech, becoming a punchy way to describe anyone brimming with anticipation, vibrating with energy, and utterly ready to leap into action.
Examples
- After a long training camp, the athletes were raring to go for the championship race.
- The kids were packed and standing by the door, clearly raring to go on their camping trip.