a caballo regalado no le mires el diente

/a kaˈβaʎo reɣaˈlaðo no le ˈmiɾes el ˈdjente/◆proverb

don't examine a gift too closely

Cuando te regalan algo, no le mires el diente al caballo regalado.

When someone gives you a gift, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

◆ What It Really Means

A reminder to accept gifts or favors without being overly critical or demanding.

¶ Literal Meaning

Don't look at the teeth of a gift horse.

Literal Breakdown

a caballoon a horse+regaladogiven as a gift+no le miresdon't look at it+el dientethe tooth

◇ Mental Image

The mental image of a horse being given as a gift, with the advice not to inspect its teeth (a sign of age and health) too closely.

◈ When to Use

When someone receives a gift or favor and starts criticizing it, another person might say this proverb to remind them to be grateful instead.

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries and reflects the cultural importance of gratitude and humility.

informal

A warning against being overly critical of something you've received for free, emphasizing gratitude over scrutiny.

Aunque el regalo no era exactamente lo que quería, recordé el dicho: a caballo regalado no le mires el diente.

Even though the gift wasn't exactly what I wanted, I remembered the saying: don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

This proverb encourages appreciation for gifts or favors without nitpicking their flaws.

Synonyms

every cloud has a silver lining

This proverb reflects the value of gratitude and humility in Spanish-speaking cultures, where accepting gifts graciously is important.

Derived from the practice of examining a horse's teeth to determine its age and health. A gift horse should not be scrutinized in the same way.

This proverb is used to discourage overanalyzing or criticizing gifts or favors, emphasizing gratitude instead.

a caballo regalado

a gift horse

metaphor

no le mires el diente

don't look at its teeth

metaphor

Diccionario Español-Inglés