On July 18, 2025, during the final press conference ahead of the heavyweight title fight between Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk and Britain’s Daniel Dubois in London, something unexpected happened — not in the ring, but in language.
Amid a heated verbal exchange between Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas and Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren, tensions rose. Audience members began shouting.
Usyk interrupted the noise with a quiet but firm English phrase:
“Don’t push the horses.”
The room fell silent — not from authority, but confusion. Native English speakers looked puzzled. Promoter Frank Warren even asked for a repetition — and then joked he needed a translatort, reports G.Business, citing Ukrainian outlet Oboz.ua, quickly turned into a meme.
What Did He Mean
The phrase sounded grammatically correct — but made no idiomatic sense in English.
Usyk had directly translated a well-known Ukrainian saying:
Ukrainian: «Не жени коней»
Literal English: “Don’t push the horses”
Common English Equivalent: “Hold your horses”
Meaning: Don’t rush, be patient.
In other words, Usyk was asking everyone to calm down — but did so using a non-native, literal translation, which made the phrase unintentionally funny and deeply memorable.
Where Did the Phrase Come From
Although many believed Usyk coined the line on the spot, its true origin is tied to Ukrainian comedian Vasyl Kharizma. Back in 2021, Kharizma released a satirical YouTube video where he translated Ukrainian idioms literally into English — showcasing the strange poetry of direct translations.
Among them was:
“Don’t push the horses” – as a literal version of «Не жени коней».
Kharizma reposted the video on TikTok after the press conference, highlighting the coincidence.
It soon became clear: Usyk was likely referencing the viral meme — intentionally or not.
From Confusion to Meme
Within hours, “Don’t push the horses” became a global catchphrase.
Clips of Usyk explaining the phrase to a native English speaker — using gestures and laughter — spread widely on TikTok and Instagram. The hashtag #DontPushTheHorses racked up millions of views.
What started as a misunderstood phrase became a symbol of cultural expression, wit, and identity.
More Than a Joke
This wasn’t just a boxer making a language mistake. It was a Ukrainian athlete inserting a cultural reference into a global moment.
The phrase showed how language, even when mistranslated, can create connection — and remind the world of the depth behind idioms and humor.
Stay connected for news that works — timely, factual, and free from opinion. Learn more about this topic and related developments here: Usyk Knocks Out Dubois — Ukraine Hails Its Undisputed Champion Again