Do not look a gift horse in the mouth — be grateful for what you receive without criticising it. Ingratitude for gifts is a social and moral failing.
The age of a horse is assessed by examining its teeth — worn, yellowed teeth indicate an older animal worth less than a young one. To inspect the teeth of a gift horse is therefore an act of ingratitude: you are assessing whether the gift is valuable enough rather than simply being thankful for it. This pan-European proverb is deeply embedded in Lombard culture, where generosity was considered a virtue and ingratitude (milanesi ingrati!) one of the city's acknowledged faults. The saying is particularly used when children or adults complain about gifts, when workers complain about pay rises, or when beneficiaries criticise the terms of their benefit. In the mercantile culture of Milan, where gifts had commercial value and were reciprocated, ingratitude disrupted the entire social economy.
Pan-European proverb (Latin: Equi donati dentes non inspiciuntur) with strong Lombard resonance. The horse-trading culture of the Po Valley gave the proverb its agricultural grounding.
A parent whose child complained about a present
— Non mi piace questo zaino. — A caval donat no se guarda in boca. Tua zia ha fatto del suo meglio.
— I do not like this backpack. — Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. Your aunt did her best.
A Milanese employee complaining about a bonus
— Il bonus è meno del previsto. — A caval donat no se guarda in boca. In molte aziende non lo danno proprio.
— The bonus is less than expected. — Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. In many companies they do not give one at all.
A Lombard neighbour who gave vegetables from his garden
Gli ho portato i pomodori dell'orto e ha detto che aveva già quelli. A caval donat no se guarda in boca — non gliene porto più.
I brought him tomatoes from the garden and he said he already had some. Do not look a gift horse in the mouth — I will not bring him any more.
A Turin foundation giving a grant to an artist
Il giovane artista ha lamentato che la cifra era insufficiente. A caval donat no se guarda in boca — l'anno prossimo la borsa la diamo a qualcun altro.
The young artist complained that the amount was insufficient. Do not look a gift horse in the mouth — next year we give the grant to someone else.