Don’t Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth means don’t complain about or inspect a free gift too closely. Be grateful, not picky - especially when it costs you nothing.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth,' but still ain't nobody gave me a horse. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth,' but still ain't nobody gave me a horse. Pronunciation
[dont LOOK uh GIFT
HORSE in thuh MOWTH]
/ˌdoʊnt lʊk ə ɡɪft hɔrs ɪn ðə maʊθ/
HORSE in thuh MOWTH]
/ˌdoʊnt lʊk ə ɡɪft hɔrs ɪn ðə maʊθ/
Meaning & Usage
- Don’t criticize a free gift (proverb)
Earl:
They gave me free tickets but the seats ain’t great.
They gave me free tickets but the seats ain’t great.
Martha:
Hush - don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
Hush - don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.variations: look a gift horse in the mouth, gift horse saying
Origin
This proverb is ancient - it goes all the way back to the **5th century** in Latin ("Noli equi dentes inspicere donati").
Historically, the age and health of a horse were checked by inspecting its teeth. If someone gave you a horse for free, inspecting those teeth to judge its value was considered rude - thus, the idiom.
It became a staple in English by the Middle Ages and spread to America centuries later.
Verdict: Southernish. Common in Southern rural talk, but old and widespread far beyond the South.
Notes
- Often said to teach gratitude or stop someone from complaining.
- Common in farm and horse-owning regions - including the South.
- Still widely used in business, gifts, and generosity contexts.
- One of the oldest English proverbs still in everyday use.
Most Popular
About
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...Slang, folklore, culture, and accent vary from place to place, even ridge to ridge - this is how I know it. Read the full disclaimer and terms of use • Privacy Policy
© Hillbilly Slang | Original audio and content not for reproduction or AI training without permission. Keeping the Mountains Talking 'Til The Cows Come Home