look a gift horse in the mouth
idiom
: to look in a critical way at something that has been given to one
I noticed the guitar wasn't made of real wood, but I didn't say anything because you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Examples of look a gift horse in the mouth in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth is one of the oldest proverbs known to humankind, whinnying back at least 1,500 years.
—
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2024
But, throughout this decade mirabilis, Friedman maintained his remarkable tendency to look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Krithika Varagur, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but Bullfrog Bagels are definitively mid-tier on my mental list of the Best Bagels in DC.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 11 Jan. 2024
This isn't the time to look a gift horse in the mouth!
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
Is Temu Legitimate and Reliable? Mimi Lan is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Debbi Compton, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2023
With six national championships and eight SEC titles during this run, no one wants to look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2022
With apprenticeships a scarce resource, no one should look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022
For now, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 13 Feb. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2024
But, throughout this decade mirabilis, Friedman maintained his remarkable tendency to look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Krithika Varagur, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but Bullfrog Bagels are definitively mid-tier on my mental list of the Best Bagels in DC.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 11 Jan. 2024
This isn't the time to look a gift horse in the mouth!
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
Is Temu Legitimate and Reliable? Mimi Lan is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Debbi Compton, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2023
With six national championships and eight SEC titles during this run, no one wants to look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2022
With apprenticeships a scarce resource, no one should look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022
For now, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
—Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 13 Feb. 2022
Articles Related to look a gift horse in the mouth
Dictionary Entries Near look a gift horse in the mouth
Cite this Entry
“Look a gift horse in the mouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/look%20a%20gift%20horse%20in%20the%20mouth. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share