"NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH"????
I dont get it.... I look where I want! and l've been around heaps of horses. Whats this saying mean?
2006-07-31 17:38:40 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
It means if someone gives you something really great, DON'T complain about it. You will never receive another gift from them again. It's rude.
It all started back when people rode horses to get around.
Not everyone could afford one. SO, people who were more fortunate would sometimes give them a horse. An old one.
People used to and still do, check out a horses teeth to determine it's age and health.
It was rude to look at a horses teeth, right there in front of the person who gave it to them.
That would be like, our asking how much money they spent on our gift.
That's what it means. Accept the gift and act greatful.
2006-07-31 17:50:07 · answer #1 · answered by Molly 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you receive something you didn't expect, didn't especially want or need, appreciate the gift anyway and be thankful for the blessing of knowing someone loved you enough to want to give you something they thought you would enjoy. I believe this old saying originated because in order to figure out the age of a horse, people looked in his mouth and checked the condition of his teeth. Therefore, if someone GAVE you a horse, it would be rude to check his mouth to see how old he was. Just take the gift, be thankful for it and don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
2006-08-01 00:45:36 · answer #2 · answered by missingora 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the old days, when horses were the mode of transportation, one way to check out to make sure the horse was healthy is to look at his teeth and his mouth. I suppose it would be the equivallent of kicking the tires and taking a car you're looking to buy for a test ride.
When they say "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" meaning that don't be too picky with something that you're getting for free.
2006-08-01 00:44:48 · answer #3 · answered by imagineworldwide 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For instance....
Lets say, your Aunt Mildred dies and leaves her 1972 AMC Gremlin to you in her will. Aunt Mildred also collects Porsches but left her shiny red 2006 model to your ugly cousin Trevor.
You don't own a car, but happen to be saving for a downpayment on a brand new Porsche convertible. You only make 5 dollars and hour (it will take you 22 years to save for that downpayment) however, only a Porsche will do.. because your pride says you have to be stylin'!
Your Mother brings you down to earth and says...
"Drive Aunt Mildred's car until you can afford to buy the car you want"
"Don't look a gift Horse in the mouth"
= Don’t question the value of a gift.
The proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth. This practice is also the source of the expression “long in the tooth,” meaning old.
2006-08-01 00:46:48 · answer #4 · answered by alwaysbombed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To judge the value of a horse, many horse specialists will look inside of a horses mouth, checking teeth and gums I believe.
The concept here is that if you are given a gift (in the example, a horse), do not check it to see if it's good, accept the fact that someone has given you a gift.
Love as always,
Sebastian
2006-08-01 00:43:49 · answer #5 · answered by octo_boi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People look in a horse's mouth to see how old it is. That saying means, if someone is kind enough to give you a gift, don't try to find fault with it.
2006-08-01 00:44:08 · answer #6 · answered by littlechrismary 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't have a thing to do with horses or looking in any direction.. if you get a lot of gifts or whatever from a person, you can't take that person for granted or keep expecting them to constantly give you things.
2006-08-01 00:44:19 · answer #7 · answered by Dis~Played 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means when you get a gift don't inspect and criticize it, just accept it and say thank you.
Some people think this saying relates to the Trojan horse, but that doesn't make much sense. They SHOULD have looked it in the mouth!
2006-08-01 00:44:28 · answer #8 · answered by bogusman82 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so then you know you can tell a horse's age by the position of it's teeth (they jut out more as they get older)...anyone who would take a "gift" horse and then look it over to see how good it is (i.e. usage remaining) would be gauche.
2006-08-01 00:46:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the horse is FREE (gift) it doesn't matter how old it is (you tell by looking at their teeth). It is like "biting the hand that feeds you." If it is free... quit your whining.
2006-08-01 00:44:32 · answer #10 · answered by amymame 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋