look a gift horse in the mouth

look a gift horse in the mouth

Fig. to be ungrateful to someone who gives you something; to treat someone who gives you a gift badly. (Usually with a negative.) Never look a gift horse in the mouth. I advise you not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

See also: gift, horse, look, mouth

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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 pays good money. I'd be inclined not to look a gift horse in the mouth if I were you.

See look a million dollars, have a face like thunder

See also: gift, horse, look, mouth

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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 idea that you can discover a lot about a horse's condition by looking at its teeth

See also: gift, horse, look, mouth