A Newsweek article describes the President in good fighting spirits as 'feeling his oats.' No matter how well-worn the idiom, it seems pretty back-handed to figure the President, or anyone, as a horse, no? Somehow it's not quite flattering as 'strong as a horse' or good-naturedly teasing as 'proud as a peacock,' etc., perhaps because the reference to food makes it sound a little too realistic, as opposed to symbolic. No?
I eat oatmeal or Cheerios nearly every day and I certainly feel them a few hours later.
Robert, I don't see it as back-handed; perhaps a bit more informal than might be expected in referring to the President, but I don't think it's pejorative at all.
Ok. Some foreigners will wince when that's explained to them for the 1st time.
Robert said
Ok. Some foreigners will wince when that's explained to them for the 1st time.
Yes. This could be the problem with some of your (or any language's) idioms. Like, I think, you use 'bark' for people, too. I've encountered it so once or twice.
Was my use of 'so' in the last sentence correct? I meant, "I've encountered it used in this way". Or maybe better to say, "I've encountered it used so", ha?