my kingdom for a horse

English

Etymology

From William Shakespeare's Richard III (1593), Act V, Scene IV: "A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!"

Pronunciation

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Phrase

my kingdom for a horse

1. The speaker is willing to sacrifice anything to obtain a seemingly unimportant item that is invaluable at a critical moment.

Translations

willingness to sacrifice anything for something previously unimportant

• Danish: mit kongerige for en hest
• Finnish: myydä esikoisoikeutensa hernerokasta (verb), valtakunta hevosesta
• French: mon royaume pour un cheval (fr)
• Greek: αντί πινακίου φακής (el) (antí pinakíou fakís)
• Polish: królestwo za konia

See also

• sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage