Are you supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth? Or are you supposed to not look a gift horse in the mouth.
2006-09-11 16:32:08 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You are supposed not to look a gift horse in the mouth. It means that you shouldn't examine a free gift too closely - it's a gift, accept it and be grateful. The mouth part comes from the practice of examining a horse's teeth to determine its health.
2006-09-11 16:38:38 · answer #1 · answered by Bethany 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are not supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth.
The phrase means failing to show gratitude for a gift; being critical of the quality of the thing given rather than recognizing the generosity of the giver.
Historically, looking at a horse's teeth was one way of determining the animal's health. So if one were buying a horse, looking in it's mouth would be both expected and advisable. For a gift horse though -- one that costs you nothing -- looking in its mouth would be rude.
Make sense?
2006-09-11 23:43:41 · answer #2 · answered by stork5100 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You DON'T look a gift horse in the mouth.
This expression comes from the practice of examining a horse's teeth to determine his age and overall health. If you're buying the horse, that's pretty important stuff to know when you're going to negotiate the price.
When the horse is a gift, however, you don't behave as though you have a financial stake in it, same way you shouldn't make serious inquiries into the price of any other present you've received...it's a little on the rude side.
2006-09-11 23:40:16 · answer #3 · answered by Claude 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should NOT look a gift horse in the mouth...it means that if you have been given a gift dont question it or examine it...just feel hapy and grateful for the gift and accept it...
similar to from the horses mouth- meaning you have got the info straight from the original source
2006-09-12 03:01:40 · answer #4 · answered by payal b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can tell how old a horse is by looking at his teeth. However, if someone gives you a horse for free, don't worry about his age. In regular terms, it means be grateful for any gift and don't judge it in any way.
2006-09-11 23:38:34 · answer #5 · answered by notyou311 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Like if someone gave you something you needed, lets say a laptop, but it wasn't the kind you wanted, and you bi**hed about that. Hey they bought if for you, so don't complain.
2006-09-11 23:38:17 · answer #6 · answered by mphsgurl79 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be happy with what you get. Don't be unhappy with a gift or present that somebody gave to you.
Be grateful.
It's don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
It can also mean don't question why somebody gave you something or why somebody is doing something for you.
2006-09-11 23:56:45 · answer #7 · answered by Erica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when someone gives you a gift and you don't like it, don't complain about it, and don't look a gifthorse in the mouth. be grateful!
2006-09-11 23:43:36 · answer #8 · answered by afchica101 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont take it literally, it means accept whatever you are given with good faith and overlook all the possible flaws with it. Be thankful and grateful.
ps- A good one to use for all those christmas and birthday gifts we receive that just dont make any sense to us!!!
2006-09-14 09:10:23 · answer #9 · answered by sunshine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
looking a gifthorse in the mouth=means looking at or listening to exceptionally high intelligent person who is there helping you.
2006-09-11 23:43:47 · answer #10 · answered by whisper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋