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Explaining "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 30/09/2024, 06:55
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Never look a gift horse in the mouth

The phrase means you should not criticize or inspect a gift or favor too closely, as it may appear ungrateful.

Tone

Advisory

Origin

The origin comes from the practice of evaluating a horse's age and health by looking at its teeth. When receiving a horse as a gift, it would be impolite to inspect its mouth this way, as it suggests distrust or lack of appreciation.

Examples of usage

  • When he complained about the free concert tickets, his friend reminded him, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth."
  • She was given an older model phone for free and was reminded, "Never look a gift horse in the mouth."

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