from the horse's mouth

Idioms  

1. From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse's mouth that he plans to retire next month. Also put as straight from the horse's mouth, this expression alludes to examining a horse's teeth to determine its age and hence its worth. [1920s]

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Example Sentences

Well they will now hear it from the horse’s mouth as the biggest U.S. carriers are due to provide updates at the JPMorgan Industrials Conference in Washington.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

"Anthony, you're getting it from the horse's mouth himself: I'm here, I'm ready to go," Wilder said.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2023

“I need y’all to hear this from the horse’s mouth, not the publicist’s computer,” Ne-Yo says in the clip, which has since been deleted.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2023

"The attackers are getting the information directly from the horse's mouth, if you will, and they don't have to sit there and make interpretations because they're getting it directly from the expert," Elliot said.

From Reuters • Dec. 12, 2022

Which didn’t matter anyway because he got it straight from the horse’s mouth that very night after supper.

From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant