What does it mean to look a GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH?

Answer 1

it means that when u get something for free, its better not to complain about it.

like the GIFT horse, because u have received it for free, it is kinda rude to check if he has nice teeth... it is a proverb :-)

Answer 2

Horses are aged by their teeth so to look a gift horse in the mouth would be an insult to the gifter as you would be implying that the gift horseis not good enough if its age is not right.

In other words, if you were gifted a car but instead of the Audi convertable you were hoping for you recived a 1982 ford fiesta, some one whom you complained to may reply "never look a gift horse in the mouth" as you had no car before and now you have a fiesta so regardless of what you wanted you should be greatful you got anything.

Answer 3

Usually phrased "Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth"
means that if someone gives you something and you wonder why,Don't...you see..when an experienced horse buyer looks at a horse he or she will look at the horse's teeth to determine the horse's age,so if the hours was a gift,why bother?
Another phrase I like is "Better Than a Poke in the Eye"
Ponder That One.

Answer 4

If someone offers you something like when you need help ..Don't ask questions "take it' if you really need it. Once a homeless person asked my husband for $$ and he offered him a sandwich instead and the homeless man asked..ah what kind of bread is it wheat or white bread !!??? He looked a gift horse in the mouth !! If you need a car cause you are walking and someone gives you a ok used good working car to help you out do not complain!!!!!That is looking a gift horse in the mouth. I guess back then and may be today too if you bought a horse you looked inside his mouth to see if he appeared in good health.

Answer 5

it means if you get a horse as a gift from say a wealthy relative or somebody who had an old nag that he couldn't be bothered paying for food for it and decided to give it to you as a "gift horse".
If you looked into its mouth it would mean that you looked a gift horse in the mouth!

Answer 6

It means to make full use of the opportunity given to you, and to make the best of things. In old times, when horses are a commodity and a necessity, getting one horse as a gift is serious stuff...only an ungrateful person would wanna check the horse's teeth/mouth before accepting it.

Answer 7

If someone gives you a horse (no cost), it is rude and ungrateful to look in its mouth to see how old it is. Seriously.

You can tell a horse's age by the condition of its teeth. An old horse is not as eagerly received as a young one. If you are getting it for free, you should just shut up and accept it with good grace.

Answer 8

The first person to answer this is all wrong. When a person does something nice for you or tries to help you out (say, by giving you a gift), and you blow them off or don't appreciate it in some other way, that's looking a gift horse in the house.

Answer 9

If someone gives you a horse as a gift you don't start looking for faults such as checking its age - by looking in its mouth.

Answer 10

basically its a proverb. to check the age of a horse u look at its teeth. what it means is that if u get something for free u should not be complaining or checking its age/condition etc... u should just accept the gift graciously and be thankful that u got it for nothing! hope ive explained this well enuf for u m8! take care! =0Þ

Answer 11

It means that all presents are not good to take, one should first closely inspect them. A typical example is the Trojan horse: a gift from some God or Goddess that should not have been taken.
Therefrom comes the Latin saying "Timeo Danaos et dona ferentis": I fear the Greek especially when they bring you gifts.
Also the English "There is nothing like a free lunch".