ProverbMorality
Spanish origin
Spanish originA caballo regalado no se le mira el diente
Meaning: Don't criticize or question a gift.
Literally: Don't look at the teeth of a gifted horse
Example: “El sofá que nos dieron no es nuevo, pero a caballo regalado no se le mira el diente.” — The sofa they gave us isn't new, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Equivalents in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and 3 more languages
English: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
French: À cheval donné, on ne regarde pas les dents (literally: Don't look at the teeth of a gifted horse)
German: Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul (literally: One does not look into the mouth of a gifted nag)
Italian: A caval donato non si guarda in bocca (literally: You don't look a gifted horse in the mouth)
Portuguese: A cavalo dado não se olha o dente (literally: You don't look at a gifted horse's teeth)
Dutch: Een gegeven paard moet men niet in de bek kijken (literally: One shouldn't look a gifted horse in the mouth)
Russian: Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят (Daryonomu konyu v zuby ne smotryat) (literally: You don't look a gifted horse in the teeth)
Polish: Darowanemu koniowi nie zagląda się w zęby (literally: You don't look a gifted horse in the teeth)
Origin: A horse's age shows in its teeth, so checking them means judging the gift's value. Saint Jerome cited the Latin as a common proverb in the 4th century: noli equi dentes inspicere donati.
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