John gave Joe a baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.
look a gift horse in the mouth — To complain if a gift is not perfect. A proverb. Usually used with a negative. * /John gave Joe a baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth./ … Dictionary of American idioms
look a gift horse in the mouth — To complain if a gift is not perfect. A proverb. Usually used with a negative. * /John gave Joe a baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth./ … Dictionary of American idioms
look a gift horse in the mouth — phrasal : to criticize and find fault with a gift * * * look a gift horse in the mouth To criticize, delay or niggle over a gift or lucky opportunity (orig to look at a gift horse s teeth to tell its age) • • • Main Entry: ↑gift * * * find fault… … Useful english dictionary
look a gift horse in the mouth — (not) look a gift horse in the mouth if someone tells you not to look a gift horse in the mouth, they mean that you should not criticize or feel doubt about something good that has been offered to you. Okay, it s not the job of your dreams but it … New idioms dictionary
look a gift horse in the mouth — complain if a gift is not perfect Even if you don t like the present from the company you shouldn t complain. Remember don t look a gift horse in the mouth … Idioms and examples
look a gift horse in the mouth — to criticize or refuse to take something that has been offered to you. I know the car s not in great condition, but you shouldn t look a gift horse in the mouth. Usage notes: usually follows never or not, as in the example Etymology: based on the … New idioms dictionary
To look a gift horse in the mouth — Horse Horse (h[^o]rs), n. [AS. hors; akin to OS. hros, D. & OHG. ros, G. ross, Icel. hross; and perh. to L. currere to run, E. course, current Cf. {Walrus}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A hoofed quadruped of the genus {Equus}; especially, the domestic horse… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
never look a gift horse in the mouth — A horse’s age is commonly gauged by the state of its teeth. The proverb warns against questioning the quality or use of a lucky chance or gift. Cf. a 420 ST. JEROME Commentary on Epistle to Ephesians Preface noli..ut vulgare proverbium est, equi… … Proverbs new dictionary
not look a gift horse in the mouth — (not) look a gift horse in the mouth if someone tells you not to look a gift horse in the mouth, they mean that you should not criticize or feel doubt about something good that has been offered to you. Okay, it s not the job of your dreams but it … New idioms dictionary
don't look a gift horse in the mouth — I. do not complain if a gift is not perfect; take what you ve been given without criticism or emphasis on its worth. Be happy. Don t look a gift horse in the mouth. II. do not be critical of a gift; be grateful for a gift Don t evaluate a… … English idioms
