Certain French proverbs or expressions lend themselves well to the end-of-year holiday season, and this one could apply to Christmas Day.
The French language is full of proverbs and expressions of all kinds. But over time, we tend to quickly forget them, or no longer remember their meaning. We must also admit that very often we do not know them, and even if we guess the meaning of the sentence, it is worth looking into it. Like this expression “On a given horse, we don’t look at the bridle” or “On a given horse, we don’t look at the teeth”… which could very well apply to the Christmas period, especially when exchanging gifts.
Although the origin of this expression is still unclear, we nevertheless know that it existed in medieval Latin in the form “non oportet equi teeth inspicere donati“. The expression therefore dates back to a time when horses represented a precious wealth since they were the main means of transport. Giving a horse was therefore an important gift. The “bridle” here refers to the reins which serve to guide the animal The proverb therefore advises not to dwell on the defects (such as the bridle, the condition of the animal, or its equipment) when it is offered to us. Another version, like. “On a given horse, we don’t look at the teeths”, also illustrates this idea: a horse’s teeth give indications of its age and general condition. Through this variation, the saying indicates that we should not try to evaluate or judge the value of the present when we receives it.
This expression suggests that a gift should be accepted as it is, without ulterior motives or criticism. It is, in short, a call to acceptance and contentment, to gratitude. So, if you receive a Christmas gift that doesn’t go down well with the masses, think again about this saying. This will help you avoid offending the person you know who spent time choosing and packing it. A proverb to apply when exchanging gifts on Christmas Day! And discreetly, nothing will stop you (like many French people) from trying to resell it online.
Although the expression “On a given horse, we don’t look at the bridle” is becoming rare these days, it reminds us that in a consumer society where we often compare and where expectations are sometimes high, it is important to remember that sometimes, the value of a gesture lies in the attention that accompanies it more than in its materiality.