charley horse
noun
char·ley horse
ˈchär-lē-ˌhȯrs 
: a muscular pain, cramping, or stiffness especially of the quadriceps that results from a strain or bruise
Examples of charley horse in a Sentence
had to stop and rest because of a charley horse in his leg
Recent Examples on the Web
Another boy, who cheerily introduces himself as Curly, succumbs to the pain of a charley horse that as appeared in less than a mile of walking — after receiving his three warnings, he is coldly shot down by The Long Walk soldiers that follow closely behind.
—
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 July 2025
Of course, our new life isn’t all rainbows and butterflies and charley horses.
—Danielle Kraese, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
After walking Jung Hoo Lee on five pitches to lead off the seventh, Gore left the game alongside a trainer in the middle of a plate appearance against Matt Chapman due to a charley horse in his left leg.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
Leg cramps, sometimes called charley horses, are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that cause intense shooting pain that lasts seconds to minutes.
—Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
More commonly known as a charley horse, a nighttime leg cramp is when the muscles in a leg quickly tighten up.
—Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024
David Della-Giustina, MD, an emergency medicine doctor and professor of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, says those heat cramps feel like a muscle spasm, or what's known as a charley horse.
—Leah Groth, Health.com, 17 June 2020
This is different than the last time, when the guy has the charley horse.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2023
Campbell said Aidan Hutchinson suffered a charley horse in his three-sack game Sunday and should be good to go for this week's game against the Vikings.
—Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 20 Sep. 2022
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Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 July 2025
Of course, our new life isn’t all rainbows and butterflies and charley horses.
—Danielle Kraese, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
After walking Jung Hoo Lee on five pitches to lead off the seventh, Gore left the game alongside a trainer in the middle of a plate appearance against Matt Chapman due to a charley horse in his left leg.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
Leg cramps, sometimes called charley horses, are sudden, involuntary muscle contractions that cause intense shooting pain that lasts seconds to minutes.
—Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024
More commonly known as a charley horse, a nighttime leg cramp is when the muscles in a leg quickly tighten up.
—Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024
David Della-Giustina, MD, an emergency medicine doctor and professor of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, says those heat cramps feel like a muscle spasm, or what's known as a charley horse.
—Leah Groth, Health.com, 17 June 2020
This is different than the last time, when the guy has the charley horse.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2023
Campbell said Aidan Hutchinson suffered a charley horse in his three-sack game Sunday and should be good to go for this week's game against the Vikings.
—Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 20 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Charley horse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/charley%20horse. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
charley horse
noun
char·ley horse
ˈchär-lē-ˌhȯrs
: pain and stiffness from muscular strain or bruise especially in a leg
Medical Definition
charley horse
noun
char·ley horse
ˈchär-lē-ˌhȯrs
: a muscular pain, cramping, or stiffness especially of the quadriceps that results from a strain or bruise
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