pony

American  

[poh-nee] / ˈpoʊ ni /

noun

plural

ponies

1. a small horse of any of several breeds, usually not higher at the shoulder than 14½ hands (58 inches/146 centimeters).

2. a horse of any small type or breed.

3. Slang. a literal translation or other text, used illicitly as an aid in schoolwork or while taking a test; crib.

4. something small of its kind.

5. a small glass for liquor.

6. the amount of liquor it will hold, usually one ounce (29.6 milliliters).

7. a small beverage bottle, often holding seven ounces (196 grams).

   We bought a dozen ponies of Mexican beer.

8. Older Slang. a diminutive chorus girl.

9. pony pack.

10. British Slang. the sum of 25 pounds.

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verb (used with object)

ponied, ponying

1. Slang. to prepare (lessons) by means of a pony.

2. Racing Slang.

   1. to be the outrider for (a racehorse).

   2. to exercise (a racehorse) by having a rider mounted on another horse lead it at a gallop around a track.

verb (used without object)

ponied, ponying

1. to prepare a lesson or lessons with the aid of a pony.

idioms

1. pony up, to pay (money), as in settling an account.

   Next week you'll have to pony up the balance of the loan.

pony British  

/ ˈpəʊnɪ /

noun

1. any of various breeds of small horse, usually under 14.2 hands

2. 1. a small drinking glass, esp for liqueurs

   2. the amount held by such a glass

3. anything small of its kind

4. slang a sum of £25, esp in bookmaking

5. Also called: trot.  slang a literal translation used by students, often illicitly, in preparation for foreign language lessons or examinations; crib

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pony More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pony

• dog-and-pony show

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Etymology

Origin of pony

First recorded in 1650–60; earlier powney, from obsolete French poulenet, diminutive of poulain “colt,” from Medieval Latin pullānus ( Latin pull(us) “young animal” + -ānus adjective suffix); foal, -an, -et

Example Sentences

While it’s true passengers typically pony up for all sorts of extras on a sailing, from drink packages to specialty dining, they see a true benefit to those things, she noted.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can ride a pony or take a leisurely trip on a John Deere tractor train.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

The change -- condemned by environmentalists -- was spearheaded by the party of European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who lost her beloved pony Dolly to a wolf attack in northern Germany in 2022.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

He has been riding since he was a toddler and gained experience of race riding on the pony racing circuit.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

Out of habit she made a beeline to the favorite shelves from her girlhood, the ones where the pony stories were kept.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood