you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Alternative form of you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“Hush! hush! there is Angel on the piazza. I don’t see,” sinking into a chair, for she had been standing, “how this has come about. I thought Allen—” / “He never cared a straw for me—in that way. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Not that I would leave any stone unturned t
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 “you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink” mean?
Alternative form of you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Is “you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.