'I Got Your Goat' the meaning behind the phrase.

I got your goat-literally

People in days gone by often say “ I got your goat” when they have annoyed or tricked someone or gotten the better of them in a situation. These words have been used in modern times similar to playing an April Fools Day joke. This phrase is not used so much now, but it can be heard on occasion. When I was a child if an individual told a tall tale they would say to the person who believed the story, "I got your goat."

I had never considered or questioned the meaning of these words until recently. I found myself saying them to someone who expressed they had never heard this phrase before. I did several internet searches and found that the alleged origin of this idiom is pretty interesting and has a literal meaning. This old adage actually means exactly what it states, which is that someone really stole a goat.

The history behind the saying

"I got your goat" has its roots in horseracing and the practice of giving a lonely horse a goat as a companion. According to the information I read, goats are inexpensive creatures to care for when compared to having to purchase another "equine." In other words, it is much cheaper to buy a goat than another horse. In addition, most horses become very attached to the goats which makes it a win-win situation. I read nothing, however, regarding whether a Nanny or Billy goat works better. I assume this indicates that either will do.

Now we come to the tricky part of the story as it is recommended that you first test the waters by placing the goat nearby rather than directly in the stall with the horse. If the horse has never seen a goat he may possibly react with panic or at least be very cautious. One or both animals could be injured so it's best to keep the goat in an adjacent stall to the one the horse resides in.

After a few days, the horse should be accustomed to the scent of his new companion and when he is relaxed and begins sniffing this may be a good sign. It is recommended that the horse be kept on a lead shank to prevent him from attacking then allow the animals to be together in a padlock. The horse must be watched to make sure he is not becoming aggressive.

The Bottom line

If you are wondering what all of this has to do with the slogan that is the subject of this article you are about to find out. Keeping in mind all the above information, it is evident that much time and effort go into making a horse and goat compatible and no one simply throws the two together. Our catchphrase "I got your goat" is said to have derived from the days of horse racing when a goat was placed in the stall with the horse prior to a race.

It was believed that the goat caused the horse to become peaceful and tranquil, which would ensure the animal would do its best in the following day's race. Based on what you have just read, it is highly unlikely that anyone would simply put any old goat in with a racehorse the night before the big race because there might be big trouble.

The owner would not risk his racehorse sustaining an injury so keeping this in mind let us now get to the point of the matter. There were said to be incidents where someone held a grudge against a racehorse owner and would remove the companion goat the night before the race. This would cause the horse distress and he would not perform well the following day.

The guilty party would then say to the owner of the horse, "I got your goat." This sounds like a dirty trick, especially if so much time and work were put into acclimating the two animals to each other. Imagine the outrage of the horse owner who had spent several days or perhaps close to a week trying to obtain the right companion for his horse only to have him snatched away.

It's not clear how this despicable act turned into a method of teasing and a way of saying "I fooled you", "I pulled your leg" or that you somehow got the better of an individual in a situation. Somehow over time people began incorporating this saying into their everyday language so, using another old saying, "Whoop there it is."