Don't be ungrateful or overly critical when receiving something for free; accept generosity graciously without examining it too closely for flaws.
This proverb dates back to the 4th century CE and comes from the practice of determining a horse's age and health by examining its teeth. Since a horse's teeth wear down and change with age, looking in a gift horse's mouth would be checking its value - essentially questioning the giver's generosity.
This phrase captures a timeless social dilemma about the etiquette of receiving gifts. In ancient times, horses were incredibly valuable, so receiving one as a gift was extraordinary generosity - examining it for defects would be the height of rudeness, much like inspecting a wedding present for its price tag today.
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