Where did the phrase ‘never look a gift horse in the mouth’ originate?
By admin on Apr. 24, 2010.
In days of yore, in the American colonies, when horses were sold, the buyers, if smart, would open the horse’s mouth and check the condition of its teeth to determine if the seller was being truthful about its age. But when a horse was a gift, it was of course considered impolite to check out the correct age of the gift, as if to imply the giver was somehow not as generous as he was pretending.
Thus when referring to the proper way to express gratitude for favors, the phrase "never look a gift horse in the mouth" caught on as an amusing and appropriate description of the recommended behavior.
Category: horse gift