IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchÀ cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents
Meaning: Do not find fault with a gift.
Literally: One does not look at the teeth of a given horse
Example: “Le canapé est un peu usé, mais à cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents.” — The couch is a bit worn, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
English equivalent: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Equivalents in other languages
English: not look a gift horse in the mouth
Origin: A horse's age is judged by its teeth, so inspecting them is pricing an animal you were given for nothing. The saying is old and widespread — Latin has noli equi dentes inspicere donati — and English keeps it as not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
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