In your opinion, what does the phrase "Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth" mean?

Answer 1

It means.. If someone gives you something, don't poke around, scrutinizing, and looking for flaws. Just be grateful that person gave you the "gift". It kind of goes hand in hand with the whole "it's the thought that counts" thing.

And when the phrase originated, it litterally meant "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth". Way back in the day, it was common to give horses/cattle as gifts. And you can actually tell how old a horse is by looking at it's Teeth. So, that's exactly what it meant : If someone were to give you a horse as a gift.. Don't Scrutinize and nitpick about things like the horse's age. The phrase just carried over with time. Weird, huh?

BTW, I like your avatar...

Answer 2

Google is your friend. This took all of a few seconds...

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Meaning: Don't be ungrateful when you receive a gift.

Origin:
This comes into the category of phrases called proverbs, that is, 'short and expressive sayings, in common use, which are recognized as conveying some accepted truth or useful advice'.

As horses age their teeth begin to project further forward each year and so their age can be estimated by checking how prominent the teeth are. This incidentally is also the source of another teeth/age related phrase - long in the tooth.

The advice given in the 'don't look...' proverb is: when given a present, be grateful for your good fortune and don't look for more by examining it to assess its value.

As with most proverbs the origin is ancient and unknown. We have some clues with this one however. The phrase was originally "don't look a given horse in the mouth" and first appears in print in 1546 in John Heywood's A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, where he gives it as:

"No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth."

Heywood is an interesting character in the development of English. He was employed at the courts of Henry VIII and Mary I as a singer, musician, and playwright. His Proverbs is a comprehensive collection of those known at the time and includes many that are still with us:

- Many hands make light work.
- Rome wasn't built in a day.
- A good beginning makes a good ending.

and so on. These were expressed in the literary language of the day, as in "would yee both eat your cake, and have your cake?", but the modern versions are their obvious descendents.

It would be nice to be able to attribute these to Heywood himself, but it's more likely that he collected them from common parlance. He can certainly be given the credit for introducing many proverbs to a wide and continuing audience though and that includes one that Shakespeare later borrowed - "All's well that ends well".

Answer 3

Google is your pal. This took all of a few seconds... do no longer look a contemporary horse in the mouth meaning: don't be ungrateful once you get carry of a contemporary. beginning: This comes into the class of words called proverbs, it is, 'short and expressive sayings, in common use, that are acknowledged as conveying some generally happening actuality or clever advice'. As horses age their enamel start to project extra forward each 3 hundred and sixty 5 days and so their age would be expected through checking how favorite the enamel are. This by the way is likewise the source of yet another enamel/age appropriate word - long in the enamel. the advice given in the 'do no longer look...' proverb is: whilst given a contemporary, be grateful to your stable fortune and don't seek for extra through examining it to evaluate its fee. As with maximum proverbs the beginning is historic and unknown. we've some clues with this one even regardless of the indisputable fact that. The word replaced into initially "do no longer look a given horse in the mouth" and popular seems in print in 1546 in John Heywood's A communicate conteinyng the nomber in effect of all of the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, the place he supplies it as: "No guy would desire to looke a geuen hors in the mouth." Heywood is a desirable character in the form of English. He replaced into employed on the courts of Henry VIII and Mary I as a singer, musician, and playwright. His Proverbs is a complete number of those generally happening on the time and incorporates many who are nevertheless with us: - Many palms make easy paintings. - Rome wasn't equipped in an afternoon. - a stable beginning makes a stable ending. and so forth. those have been expressed in the literary language of the day, as in "would yee the two devour your cake, and characteristic your cake?", however the prominent variations are their obtrusive descendents. it may well be effective to have the skill to characteristic those to Heywood himself, even regardless of the indisputable fact that it particularly is extra probably that he amassed them from common parlance. He can definitely get carry of the credit for introducing many proverbs to a great and persevering with purpose industry regardless of the indisputable fact that and that incorporates 1 that Shakespeare later borrowed - "All's nicely that ends nicely".

Answer 4

It means that you should be happy with whatever gift you recieve, and don't criticize it- just be happy someone thought of you.
I understood it as disrespectful to look at the condition of a horse's teeth when what really matters is that you're getting a horse for free.

Answer 5

You can tell a horse's age by looking at it's teeth. When you are given a gift, it's rude to check out "how old the horse is".

Answer 6

It is based on the "Trojan Horse" of Greek History (mythology depending on how you look at it)

Answer 7

It means.... if someone gives you something, don't scrutinize it for flaws. Just accept it graciously.

Answer 8

if someone gives you something for free.. and it looks like he bought it at at wal-mart, 7/11 or pick and pack.. you just smile and say thank you very much, and after the person is out of eyesight, just toss it.

Answer 9

If someone is trying to do something for you, don't complain

Answer 10

It means if something goes "kinda right" then don't complain about it.