What does the phrase ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ mean?
By admin on Nov. 27, 2009.
What I think it means is, when someone gives you a horse as a gift, you don’t look at it in the mouth and be like, ‘This horse has cabbage in his teeth, I don’t want it anymore.’ Like, you can’t get a gift, and then inspect it, and turn your nose up at it.
My mom thinks I’m nuts, though.
What does the phrase actually mean?
And when would it be used?
When someone gives you a gift, as in the case of the horse, you shouldn’t start checking his mouth .. one way people tell if a horse is healthy is by looking at its teeth and gums. You should show your appreciation and not be looking for motives of why you got the gift, because then you show you question the friendship of the gift giver .. and that is considered a slap in the face in any culture.
4 Responses to “What does the phrase ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ mean?”
If you get a gift don’t complain
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By krautchick40 on Nov 27, 2009
Take the money and run.
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By afdip on Nov 27, 2009
When someone gives you a gift, as in the case of the horse, you shouldn’t start checking his mouth .. one way people tell if a horse is healthy is by looking at its teeth and gums. You should show your appreciation and not be looking for motives of why you got the gift, because then you show you question the friendship of the gift giver .. and that is considered a slap in the face in any culture.
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By SkyKing on Nov 27, 2009
You’ve got the idea right but forget about the horse comparison.
Your mom gets a beautiful new diamond necklace from your dad. It is not an anniversary, birthday or celebrating an event. It’s a gift for her for being "like she is," nothing more.
After closely inspecting it she tells him, "I think it looks goofy."
Don’t criticize a gift. It may be the last one you get!
Horses are not cheap to own or buy. This was even more true before the auto. People with money had at least one or even a team of them. One sign of a healthy horse is learned by checking out the teeth. If they’re rotten…forget it. It can’t eat grains properly and will develope poor health and die…not a bonus.
But it is still a gift…it’s free. It does have some worth. The carcase has value and can be sold.
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By tichur on Nov 27, 2009