don't look a gift horse in the mouth
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One should not unappreciatively question or inspect a gift too closely.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “don't look a gift horse in the mouth” mean?
One should not unappreciatively question or inspect a gift too closely.
Is “don't look a gift horse in the mouth” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.