# gift horse

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/gift-horse
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An apparent gift, that has substantial associated costs or drawbacks, especially a gift that does not fit perfectly with the recipient's wants or needs.

## Examples

- It's a gift horse, so I won't complain about the color.
- You should check the quality before accepting this gift horse.
- The free car was a gift horse — it needed repairs that cost more than buying one.
- The free software was a gift horse because I had to spend three days learning how to use the complicated interface.
- The inheritance seemed like a blessing until the taxes came due, proving it was something of a gift horse.

## Origin

Derived from the economics of livestock management, the term acknowledges the inconvenience of an animal whose maintenance costs exceed its utility. The figure likely stems from the proverb regarding the inspection of a horse's mouth, an act performed to assess age and health by the state of the teeth. If the animal is a gift, such scrutiny is considered socially tactless, as the recipient remains liable for the costs of feeding and stabling an aging beast of declining value regardless of its quality. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.