THE CAT'S PAJAMAS VII

Tad Tuleja 

A collection of the (mostly) true origins of familiar phrases

DON'T LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH

This is one of the oldest-known proverbs, dating back at least 1500 years. Even a fine-looking horse could have problems. A more accurate way of assessing a horse's age and health was by examining the condition and number if its teeth. This was fine if you were buying the horse. But if the horse was being given to you free, it was considered bad manners to look into its mouth. By extension, this has come to mean that it's rude to inquire too closely into the cost or value of any gift - and beyond rude to refuse it. This has also led to the expression Straight from the horse's mouth - meaning a reliable source of information.