hay is for horses

cliché Used as a humorous or sarcastic retort to someone who has attempted to get one's attention by saying or shouting, "Hey!" A: "Hey, Dad!" B: "Hay is for horses, Billy. Say 'excuse me' if you want my attention." Every kid's had that one teacher in grade school who would correct "impolite" students with "hay is for horses." A: "Hey! Hey!" B: "Hay is for horses, Teddy. We don't shout at people to get their attention."