1
general::
Phrase(s): trot someone or something out
to bring out and display someone or something. • The boss trotted the new vice president out for us to meet. • The boss trotted out his daughter and introduced her as a new vice president. • Fred trotted out his favorite project for everyone to see., Phrase(s): trot something out
Fig. to mention something regularly or habitually, without giving it much thought. (Fig. on the image of trotting out a pony for display.) • When James disagreed with Mary, she simply trotted her same old political arguments out. • Bob always trots out the same excuses for being late.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Bring out and show for inspection and admiration, as in He trotted out all his old war medals. This expression alludes to leading out a horse to show off its various paces, including the trot. [Colloquial; first half of 1800s]
American Heritage Idioms