Hobbyhorses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A whimsical toy resembling a horse mounted on a stick, often used by children for imaginative play
2. A term used to describe an individual's persistent enthusiasm or interest in a particular activity or subject matter
3. An expressive way to refer to a topic someone frequently discusses or advocates for, showing a strong personal attachment or passion

Etymology: "Hobbyhorses" is the plural of "hobbyhorse," which originally named a child's toy: a stick topped with a carved or painted horse's head, ridden about in play. The first part, "hobby," came into English in Middle English as a name for a small, ambling horse, likely from Old French "hobin," a pet form of "Robert" that was also used as a generic name for a nag. Its figurative sense, an enthusiasm one rides relentlessly, developed later, probably in the 1600s, by comparison with the toy's repetitive, going-nowhere motion. The sense of a favourite topic one keeps returning to follows the same pattern, and the figurative use is now the common one.

Synonyms: fancies, obsessions