- Why do they say Look a gift horse in the mouth?
- Is it horses for courses or horses for lawyers?
- Is it horses for courses or for freedom of expression?
- What is an idiom?
- What does work like a horse mean?
- Do you have any idioms in your native language?
- Why do they check a horse’s teeth?
- What does “look a gift horse in the mouth” mean?
- How to use the horse’s mouth in a sentence?
- Who said I have it straight from the mouth of a horse?
- What is a’horses for courses’?
- What does the proverb ‘horses for courses’ mean?
- Is it horses for courses or horses for treatment?
- What does horses for courses mean?
- Is it horses for courses or horses for advertising?
- What is the noun for horses for courses?
- What does it mean to work like a horse?
- Why are English idioms important to learn?
- What does a gift horse mean?
- What does “look it in the mouth” mean?
- Is it true if it comes straight from the horse’s mouth?
Why do they say Look a gift horse in the mouth?
The analogy here is to examining a horse’s teeth, which reveal its age with some accuracy. Although this fact has been known for centuries (and indeed gave rise to the adage, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, dating from the fifth century), the expression dates only from the 1920s.
Is it horses for courses or horses for lawyers?
It is horses for courses, and that is a rational approach. Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0 When they talk about horses for courses, they are really talking about the importance of getting the right barrister for a particular case.
Is it horses for courses or for freedom of expression?
It is a question of horses for courses, whether one edits hard for consistency of treatment, or one edits lightly to allow contributors freedom of expression. It is horses for courses, and that is a rational approach. Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a phrase used to convey an expression or feeling. Idioms, especially the ones that have a reference to animals, have a literal as well as figurative meaning.
What does work like a horse mean?
My grandfather worked like a horse when he was a young man. – you can give someone the opportunity to do something but you cannot force him or her to do it if they do not want to
Do you have any idioms in your native language?
Each language and culture has their own set of idioms. Idioms common in the United Kingdom may be foreign to an English speaker from the United States of America, and vice versa. Your native tongue probably has some idioms as well. Can you think of any? Try FluentU for FREE!
Why do they check a horse’s teeth?
Since horses’ teeth change over time, inspecting their teeth is a way of gauging age. However, doing such a check would be a sign of mistrust towards the giver.
What does “look a gift horse in the mouth” mean?
[Tweet ““to look a gift horse in the mouth” idiom – somebody receives a gift but is ungrateful or doesn’t appreciate the gesture”] That was a very thoughtful gift Tom gave you, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! You are looking a gift horse in the mouth, you should be more grateful for the present I gave you.
How to use the horse’s mouth in a sentence?
from the horse’s mouth. If you get a piece of information from the horse’s mouth, you get it directly from someone who is involved in it and knows most about it. When he hears, straight from the horse’s mouth, what a good worker you are, he’ll increase your wages.
Who said I have it straight from the mouth of a horse?
“I have it straight from the mouth of a horse,” wrote Christopher Morley ( Kitty Foyle, 1939). Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster’s page for free fun content .
What is a’horses for courses’?
That course just suits her game. Horses for courses is a term that moved from horse racing (where, literally, they were talking about horses that were best-suited for specific race courses) into the general British lexicon, then spread out from there.
What does the proverb ‘horses for courses’ mean?
The proverb ‘horses for courses’ helps us to remember that everyone has something individual to contribute to the world – and so, we all need to find the right situation in which to make our contribution. Following the proverb’s teaching, we should just try something else until we find what we are best suited to.
Is it horses for courses or horses for treatment?
Learn the words you need to communicate with confidence. It is a question of horses for courses, whether one edits hard for consistency of treatment, or one edits lightly to allow contributors freedom of expression. It is horses for courses, and that is a rational approach.
What does horses for courses mean?
It’s horses for courses. We have to use different ways of working, at different speeds, for different types of decisions. Note: Horses for courses is also used before nouns to talk about a situation where people or things are chosen because of the particular qualities or skills that they have.
Is it horses for courses or horses for advertising?
Mr Franks said that it was a question of horses for courses and Len Freeman would concentrate on the advertising side of the business. It’s horses for courses. We have to use different ways of working, at different speeds, for different types of decisions.
What is the noun for horses for courses?
Noun. horses for courses pl ( plural only ) (chiefly Britain, idiomatic) The practice of choosing the best person for a particular job, the best response for a situation, or the best means to achieve a specific end . quotations ▼.
What does it mean to work like a horse?
work like a horse. To work with great intensity, energy, and persistence. That guy has been working like a horse hauling rubble from the collapsed building. We worked like horses to get all of the landscaping done before winter weather set in.
Why are English idioms important to learn?
English idioms aren’t easy to understand at first, especially if you’re speaking English as a second language. But learning their meanings is crucial if you want to sound more like a native.
What does a gift horse mean?
A gift horse means a horse that has been given to somebody as a present. If you inspect the horses mouth it is considered to be very rude and ungrateful as you are looking at it to see if the horse lives up to your standard or is valuable to you.
What does “look it in the mouth” mean?
“A gift horse” is a metaphor for any present you’ve been given. And “look it in the mouth” is a metaphor for being snippy about said gift.
Is it true if it comes straight from the horse’s mouth?
I know it’s true! I heard it straight from the horse’s mouth! This comes straight from the horse’s mouth, so it has to be believed. From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse’s mouth that he plans to retire next month.