How do you use "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" in a sentence?

It's not perfect, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Free tickets? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Q: What does "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" mean?

Don't be critical of a gift; accept gifts graciously. Looking at a horse's teeth reveals its age and value. Looking a gift horse in the mouth means ungratefully examining a gift's worth. Accept gifts graciously.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Don't be critical of a gift; accept gifts graciously.

不要对礼物挑三拣四；要大方地接受礼物。

No critiques un regalo; acepta los regalos con gratitud.

贈り物に文句をつけるな。もらいものはありがたく受け取れ。

선물에 흠을 잡지 마라. 받은 것은 감사히 받아들여라.

Looking at a horse's teeth reveals its age and value. Looking a gift horse in the mouth means ungratefully examining a gift's worth. Accept gifts graciously.

看马的牙齿可以判断它的年龄和价值。'looking a gift horse in the mouth（检查赠马的嘴）'意味着忘恩负义地检查礼物的价值。礼物应该大方地接受。

Mirar los dientes de un caballo revela su edad y valor. 'Looking a gift horse in the mouth' (mirarle los dientes a un caballo regalado) significa examinar ingratamente el valor de un regalo. Hay que aceptar los regalos con gracia.

馬の歯を見ればその年齢と価値が分かります。もらった馬の口を覗くこと（look a gift horse in the mouth）は、贈り物の価値を恩知らずに調べることです。贈り物はありがたく受け取りましょう。

말의 이빨을 보면 나이와 가치를 알 수 있습니다. 선물로 받은 말의 입속을 들여다보는 것은 감사하지 않게 선물의 가치를 따지는 것입니다. 선물은 감사히 받아들이라는 뜻입니다.

Examples

It's not perfect, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
虽然不完美，但别嫌弃人家的好意。
No es perfecto, pero a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.
完璧じゃないけど、もらいものに文句を言うな。
완벽하지는 않지만, 받은 것에 트집 잡지 마.
Free tickets? Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
免费的票？别挑三拣四了。
¿Entradas gratis? A caballo regalado no le mires el diente.
タダのチケット？もらいものに文句をつけるなよ。
공짜 티켓이잖아? 받은 것에 감사해라.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
别对白来的东西挑剔。
A caballo regalado no le mires el diente.
もらいものにケチをつけるな。
선물에 흠을 잡지 마라.

Pronunciation

/dəʊnt lʊk ə ɡɪft hɔːs ɪn ðə maʊθ/

Usage Guide

Context: gifts, gratitude, criticism

Tone: advising, correcting

✓ Do Say

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
别嫌弃白来的东西
a caballo regalado no le mires el diente
もらいものに文句を言うな
선물 받고 트집 잡지 마라
Never look a gift horse in the mouth
别对礼物挑三拣四
a caballo regalado no le mires el diente
もらいものにケチをつけるな
공짜에 불만 갖지 마라

Common Mistakes

About accepting gifts graciously

Origin & History

Horse trading relies on examining teeth to determine age. Checking a gifted horse's teeth implies distrust of the giver. The proverb dates from St. Jerome (400 AD).

Etymology: Horse teeth reveal age = evaluating a gift's value

First recorded: St. Jerome, 400 AD

Cultural Context

Era: St. Jerome 400 AD onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Universal proverb

Regional notes: Ancient origin, global usage.

Variations

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

✓ Do Say

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Cultural Context

Variations

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