Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

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Meaning

Don't question or critique a free gift, taking it as is.

Origin

From 4th-century Rome, St. Jerome's 'don't inspect a gift horse's teeth,' English by 1546 in Heywood's proverbs. Teeth showed a horse's worth, but gifts were rude to judge.

Variants

  • Gift horse
  • Don't look the horse

Usage Examples

  • It's free; don't look a gift horse in the mouth!
  • He didn't look a gift horse in the mouth; took the car.
  • Don't look a gift horse in the mouth; just enjoy it.

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