Quote:
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Originally Posted by wolf
... why do you have to see a man about a horse?
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The only reason I can come up with is that placing bets on horses in public places used to be illegal (still is?) when this saying developed. It's just a way for a man to say he's off to do something private for a few minutes (could be followed by 'I'll be back in a couple of shakes'* which might gve the game away (shaking being a required finishing action!)- can't see a macho man using the 'I'm off to spend a penny' alternative. Horse racing's for men, men do manly things...!
* think the full saying was: 'I'll be back in a couple of shakes of a donkey's tail' (before you ask, no I don't, except it's something that doesn't take long to do....)