proverb · Words worth keeping
Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Receive a gift with gratitude rather than immediately criticising its value. Generosity can be appreciated without measuring the offer as if it were a purchase.
Example
A neighbour gives a family a usable spare chair; they thank her instead of complaining that its colour differs from their other furniture.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The saying uses inspecting a horse as an image of assessing a gift’s worth. Its concern is the recipient’s response: fault-finding can turn an act of kindness into an occasion for complaint. It may encourage attention to the intention and effort behind an imperfect present. That does not require accepting every gift or hiding a serious problem. Suitability, safety and unwanted obligations still matter. The proverb works best for minor preferences when the offer is freely made and benign, rather than as a demand that gratitude override a person’s boundaries.
When to use it
Use it when minor criticism is overshadowing appreciation of a freely offered gift.
Keep in mind
Gratitude does not require accepting an unsafe, unsuitable or conditional gift.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English