Definition of Gift horse

1. Noun. A gift (usually of inferior quality) that should be accepted uncritically. "It wasn't much, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth"

Generic synonyms: Gift

Definition of Gift horse

1. Noun. (idiomatic) An apparent gift, that has substantial associated costs. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gift Horse

giessenite
gif
giffy
gifhornenolone
gifhornenolones
gifs
gift-horse
gift-wrap
gift-wrapped
gift-wrapping
gift-wraps
gift card
gift cards
gift certificate
gift certificates
gift horse (current term)
gift horses
gift of gab
gift of the gab
gift shop
gift tax
gift that keeps on giving
gift wrap
gift wrapping
giftable
giftables
giftbag
giftbags
giftbox
giftboxes

Literary usage of Gift horse

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Works of Charles Lamb: to which are prefixed his letters, and a sketch by Charles Lamb (1871)
"THAT WE MUST NOT LOOK A gift horse IN THE MOUTH. NOR a lady's age in the parish register. We hope we have more delicacy than to do either; but some faces ..."

2. The Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb, Josiah Hamilton Castleman (1908)
"XI THAT WE MUST NOT LOOK A GIFT-HORSE IN THE MOUTH Nor a lady's age in the parish register. We hope we have more delicacy than to do either; but some faces ..."

3. The Treasury of Knowledge and Library Reference by Samuel Maunder (1853)
"NEVER LOOK A gift horse IN THE MOUTH ! This very familiar, and often repeated saying, takes its origin from a circumstance which occurred many years ago in ..."

4. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Lexicon of the English Language by William Dwight Whitney (1889)
"... presents are given to purchasers as an inducement. gift-horse (gift'hors), ». A horse.that is given as a present.—To look a gift-horse in the mouth, ..."

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