I've been saying it for years and never knew the origin.
2007-01-12 04:55:27 · 9 answers · asked by Doodle 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It comes from the idea that you can tell a horse's age and health by looking at it's teeth, which is true. So that said you wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth because you might not like what you see.....but it's a gift so take it. hope that helps
2007-01-12 05:01:13 · answer #1 · answered by edee12 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The origin... Hm... You got a lot of wrong answers, then. People explained what the saying means, but I am sure that you knew that, right? The origin... I don't know, maybe it comes from those times when people were giving horses as gifts. I mean, it must come from those times. But, look, this is what I found on "The Phrase Finder" (Google):
NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH - According to Charles Earle Funk in "A Hog on Ice" (Harper & Row, New York, 1948), the expression "to look a gift horse in the mouth" is "...so old that its origins cannot be determined. It has been traced to the writings of St. Jerome, one of the Latin Fathers of the fourth century, who then labeled it a common proverb. The expression, or a variant proverb, occurs in French, Italian, Spanish, and other languages of Europe. The reference is, of course, to the bad manners displayed by one who receives a gift if he examines it for defects. Up to a certain age, the age of a horse can be determined by looking at its teeth; though it may appear to be young and frisky, the number or condition of teeth may show it to be almost fit for nothing but the glue-works."
2007-01-12 11:50:14 · answer #2 · answered by mrquestion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you wish to know the age of a horse you look at its teeth, therefore looking in its mouth, but if it was a gift it would be considered impertinent to look at its teeth. It compares with asking a friend how much a present cost, you just don't do that.
2007-01-12 05:09:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
wellyou tell a horses age n therefore how many years of work it has left in it this way.so if youre given one and then check it out its a bit like searchin for a label and price tag a gift is a gift
2007-01-12 05:01:30 · answer #4 · answered by nendlin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The idea is if the horse or whatever is a gift and it is rude to (the Giver) check it for imperfections.
2007-01-12 05:05:43 · answer #5 · answered by ♣ My Brainhurts ♣ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Horse's teeth are good indicators of their age and overall health. So it's sort of like saying "don't complain, it was a free gift".
2007-01-12 05:03:54 · answer #6 · answered by Cardinal Rule 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
from the trojan ledgend when the greeks made a wooden horse to give it as a present to the trojans who they had be fighting for ten years as a peace offer but they really had soldiers hidden in it so when the trojans brought the gift in the greeks jumped out and massacerd them all....... cheery stuff!!!!!!
2007-01-12 05:07:14 · answer #7 · answered by aingel93 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? iF YOU DON'T MIND ASKING - DON'T MIND THE CAPITALS i JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR. THATS ALL
2007-01-13 02:42:58 · answer #8 · answered by "*♥*Nafisa*♥*" 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hm? You got me on that one!! Smile!!!
2007-01-12 05:01:45 · answer #9 · answered by Hmg♥Brd 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋