Question

Choose the correct meaning of the given proverb:
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

a) do not look in the eye of the horse while feeding it
b) if someone offers you a gift, don’t inspect it
c) it is bad manners to check a horse’s teeth when it’s a gift to you
d) do not open gifts in front of the person who gave it to you

Answer 1

Hint: A proverb is a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people.
For example- Actions speak louder than words.

Complete answer:
In the given question, the proverb ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’ refers to not questioning the value of a gift.
Let us analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'do not look in the eye of the horse while feeding it', refers to actually feeding the horse without making eye contact with it.
Therefore, option (a.) is incorrect as its meaning is not synonymous to that of the given proverb ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’.

Option (b.), ‘if someone offers you a gift, don’t inspect it', refers to the advice that if you are offered a gift, you should not estimate it’s value and see what it is worth
Therefore, option (b.) is correct as its meaning is synonymous to that of the given proverb ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’.

Option (c.), ‘it is bad manners to check a horse’s teeth when it’s a gift to you', refers to the manners ( a way in which things are done) which are not good if we check the gift of a horse’s teeth when it is received. It does not make sense.
Therefore, option (c.) is incorrect as its meaning is not synonymous to that of the given proverb ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’.

Option (d.), ‘do not open gifts in front of the person who gave it to you', refers to the advice that we should not open gifts when the person who gave it is still in our presence.
Therefore, option (d.) is incorrect as its meaning is not synonymous to that of the given proverb ‘Never look a gift horse in the mouth’.

Note:
 Keep in mind that proverbs are usually metaphorical. Therefore, dwelling on the literal meaning of the proverbial statement is futile.
Since it is a short, well-known pithy saying, stating a general truth or piece of advice, choose the option that makes the most sense by fitting it into the proverb.