look a gift horse in the mouth

/lˈʊk ɐ ɡˈɪft hˈɔːs ɪnðə mˈaʊθ/

/lˈʊk ɐ ɡˈɪft hˈɔːɹs ɪnðə mˈaʊθ/

[phrase]

to look a gift horse in the mouth

[PHRASE]

to look for faults in a gift, favor, or opportunity that has been given to one, in a way that shows ingratitude

What is the origin of the idiom "look a gift horse in the mouth" and when to use it?

The idiom "look a gift horse in the mouth" comes from a time when horses were valuable and often given as gifts. People would check a horse's teeth to see how old and healthy it was. If you received a horse as a gift, it was considered impolite to immediately check its teeth because it showed you were questioning the gift's quality. So, the phrase means you should not be too critical when you receive something as a gift; instead, be grateful for the gesture. It is often used in personal relationships, such as when someone receives a thoughtful present or assistance from a friend, family member, or colleague.

Examples

1. Have you ever looked a gift horse in the mouth?

2. I can't believe you're looking a gift horse in the mouth, especially since you can't afford to buy a car on your own.

3. Now, the timing of Intel's interest in squeezing extra performance out of their near redlined flagship CPU is definitely a little sus as the kids say, but for my part, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

4. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.