in foal

IPA/ɪn fˈəʊl/
IPA/ɪn fˈoʊl/

in foal — idiom

1. used to describe a female horse that is carrying a growing baby inside its body

1.idiomB2
Definition

used to describe a female horse that is carrying a growing baby inside its body and will give birth to a foal.

Example

Andrei's mare Bella was in foal, and the family eagerly awaited the foal's arrival.

collocation: was in foal (predicative be-verb pattern)

The manager put the mare in foal to a champion stallion from a nearby farm.

collocation: put [mare] in foal (active breeding sense)

Common collocations
  • be in foal
  • get in foal
  • put [a mare] in foal
  • fall in foal (archaic / literary)
  • pronounced in foal
  • confirmed in foal
Synonyms
  • pregnant (with foal)

    the general term; adding 'with foal' makes the species clear, but 'in foal' is the standard equestrian expression

  • expecting a foal

    a descriptive, more informal alternative often used by horse owners

Antonyms
  • empty

    the farming term for a mare that is not pregnant at a given time

  • barren

    a stronger term describing a mare that has difficulty or is unable to become pregnant

Grammar Patterns

be + in foal

get + in foal

put + [mare] + in foal

Usage Note

This phrase applies only to horses and other equines (mares, fillies, donkeys, zebras). For other mammals, use 'pregnant' instead. A mare that is not in foal is sometimes described as 'empty' in farming contexts.

Common Mistakes

The cat is in foal.
The cat is pregnant.
'in foal' is only correct for horses and other equines; never use it for other animals.
She saw an in foal mare in the field.
She saw a mare in foal in the field.
'in foal' is predicative only and cannot be placed before a noun as an attributive adjective.

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The phrase 'in foal' dates back to Middle English (1300s). 'Foal' comes from Old English 'fola' (a young horse), which is related to Latin 'pullus' (young animal). The structure 'in + noun' to describe pregnancy mirrors older English patterns also seen in 'in calf' (cows) and 'in lamb' (sheep), where the animal's young gives the phrase its name.