gift horse
An apparent gift, that has substantial associated costs or drawbacks, especially a…An apparent gift, that has substantial associated costs or drawbacks, especially a gift that does not fit perfectly with the recipient's wants or needs.
» Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul.
Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят.
Дарованому коневі в зуби не заглядають.
Meaning
1 senses(idiomatic)An apparent gift, that has substantial associated costs or drawbacks, especially a gift that does not fit perfectly with the recipient's wants or needs.
- a gift (usually of inferior quality) that should be accepted uncritically
Examples
5 sentencesDon't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Дарованому коневі в зуби не заглядають. — Ahha
ruДарёному коню в зубы не смотрят. — al_ex_an_der
deEinem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul. — xtofu80
He has a gift with horses.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
ruДарёному коню в зубы не смотрят. — al_ex_an_der
deEinem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul. — xtofu80
One doesn't count the teeth of a gift horse.
One does not look a gift horse in the mouth.
Origin
From the economics of horse ownership, in which an aging horse of declining value continueFrom the economics of horse ownership, in which an aging horse of declining value continues to require feeding and stabling. Possibly influenced by the proverb don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
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Forms
plural: gift horses| Singular | gift horse |
|---|---|
| Plural | gift horses |
regular