Дарёному коню в зубы не смотрят
With accent marks:
Дарёному коню́ в зу́бы не смо́трят.
Translation:
Do not look at a given horse's teeth.
Meaning:
In the old days, when buying horses, people determined the age of a horse by the teeth. Sometimes, having received a horse as a present, some began to complain that they were given a walking antiquity...
This Russian proverb should be understood as follows: never say that you don’t like a gift or that it is bad. This will offend the giver while he really wanted to please you. It is not polite. Be sure to day thank you. And do not forget that not everyone has the opportunity to make expensive gifts.
Other Russian proverbs
-
С кем поведёшься, от того и наберёшься
With whom you are friends with, from them you will learn.
-
A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.
-
A bird is visible by its flight.
-
Предупреждён – значит вооружён
Forewarned is forearmed.
-
A well-fed man does not understand a starving one.
-
Appetite comes with eating.
-
Being a guest is good, but being at home is better.
-
Терпи, казак – атаманом станешь!
Be patient, Cossack - you will become an ataman!
Subscribe and receive notifications about new Russian proverbs in your inbox