hobby horse

• hobbyhorse, hobby-horse

A child with a hobby horse (sense 2).

A man with a hobby horse sense 4.

hobby horse (plural hobby horses)

1. (originally) The Irish hobby, an extinct breed of horse.
2. A child's toy consisting of a (usually wooden or cloth) horse's head mounted on a stick.
3. (figuratively) A topic about which someone loves to talk at great length.

   Don't ask him about global warming: it's his favourite hobby horse, you'll never get away.

   • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, H.L. Brækstad, transl., Folk and Fairy Tales, page 250:

     The squire was now on his hobby-horse, as we say; he had placed the old worn fur cap by his side on the sofa, leaving his bald head and grey hairs exposed.

4. A puppet-like costume used in some traditional dances and festivals that gives its wearer the appearance of a man on horseback.
5. An early bicycle with no pedals or brakes; a draisienne.

• 'Obby 'Oss

• rocking horse