Hobson’s choice is said to have had its origin in the name of one Thomas Hobson (ca. 1544-1631), at Cambridge, England, who kept a livery stable and required every customer to take either the horse nearest the stable door or none at all.
Musings
Memoirs Past and Present.
Our anniversary is coming up, which begs the question, “Is that how you chose me?”
But what a fine nearest-the-stable-door horse you’ve been.