i know the meaning but what is a gift horse and why look it in the mouth?
2007-03-09 23:54:45 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
a gift horse is a horse given to you freely
looking at its teeth is a way to estimate the age of the horse because they wear down over its life
so if somebody gives you a horse, and you check the teeth, its kind of an insult that you are questioning the value of the gift they have given you
2007-03-09 23:59:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the olden days, when people used to give horses away to people for a gift, it was considereda great offense to look it over in front of the person who gave it to you. If you checked the hooves, the underside, or looking at its teeth (looking at it from the mouth) the giver of the horse would take it as you seeing if it was good enough or something.
It just means that you should be appreciative of all gifts, not just the good ones. After all, it's the thought that counts.
2007-03-10 00:01:38 · answer #2 · answered by beachbum0694 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look a gift horse in the mouth
Be critical or suspicious of something received at no cost. For example, Dad's old car is full of dents, but we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. This term, generally expressed as a cautionary proverb (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth), has been traced to the writings of the 4th-century cleric, St. Jerome, and has appeared in English since about 1500. It alludes to determining the age of a horse by looking at its teeth.
2007-03-10 00:05:20 · answer #3 · answered by LoverOfQT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok...when you buy a horse you always look in its mouth to tell the age of the horse by his teeth..........so you would be rude to do this if it was a gift.... the moral of the phrase is therefore if you are offered something for free or an easy option take it.....or you would be looking a gift horse in the mouth!
2007-03-10 00:00:51 · answer #4 · answered by doingitallforwrenches 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
2007-03-10 00:08:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I even have heard the 1st fact such particularly some situations and that i hate it. Its no longer an insult whether it makes me experience like they are not soft around me. never been asked for advise in trend or layout. I even have won some comments including. "its stable to have a gay buddy" that's enormously humorous.
2016-11-23 19:00:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if you're given the proverbial 'gift horse' you mustn't offend the giver by checking it out too thoroughly in front of them.
Just accept it gracefully.
2007-03-09 23:58:39 · answer #7 · answered by Welshdragon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if u watch the film troy with brad pitt [good film] that should answer yor question. [unless i'm wrong, doubtit!!!!!!!]
2007-03-10 01:05:03 · answer #8 · answered by JEZ DA MAN 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋