Enough to Choke a Horse

Enough to choke a horse is a Southernish saying meaning an excessive amount; far more than is needed or comfortable. It uses rural, livestock-based imagery to exaggerate plenty or excess and fits naturally into country and Southern speech, though it’s used widely across the U.S.

#Southernish #FoodandDrink #Animals

synonyms: more than plenty, over the top, excessive, a ton, way too much

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I might say a liver pill is 'enough to choke a horse,' but that's fairly common everwhere.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I might say a liver pill is 'enough to choke a horse,' but that's fairly common everwhere.

Pronunciation

[ee-NUHF tuh CHOHK uh HORS]
/ɪˈnʌf tə tʃoʊk ə hɔrs/

Meaning & Usage

- Excessive in quantity (hyperbole)

Hank:

You sure we ordered enough?

Marge:

Lord yes-enough to choke a horse.

variations: more than enough to choke a horse, enough to feed a horse, enough to choke a mule

Origin

This expression springs from rural, livestock-centered imagery: a massive quantity compared to what a working horse might handle. Variants referencing horses or mules are common in agricultural and small-town speech. While the exact origin isn’t pinned to a single documented source, the phrase follows a long tradition of animal-based hyperbole in English and became a natural fit in American country and Southern conversation.

Verdict: Southernish. Folk-flavored and rural in tone, widely used in the U.S., not an exclusively Southern proverb.

Notes

Used to emphasize overwhelming quantity-food, work, stuff, or trouble.
Common in informal, rural, or family settings; sometimes used jokingly.
Variants exist (mule, hog, etc.) depending on local livestock references.
Fits Southern speech patterns, but also used in Midwestern and Western talk-best tagged southernish.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

What does "enough to choke a horse" mean?

It means an excessive amount-far more than necessary.

Is it a Southern saying?

It’s not exclusively Southern; it’s a rural American idiom that fits well in Southern talk.

Where did it come from?

From livestock-based hyperbole-comparing a large quantity to what might overwhelm a working animal.

Are there similar phrases?

Yes-"enough to feed a horse," "could feed a family for a month," and other animal-based exaggerations.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 22). Enough to Choke a Horse. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/enough-to-choke-a-horse
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Enough to Choke a Horse." HillbillySlang.com, 22 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/enough-to-choke-a-horse.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Enough to Choke a Horse." HillbillySlang.com. October 22, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/enough-to-choke-a-horse.