look a gift horse in the mouth
don't look a gift horse in the mouth
To complain if a gift is not perfect. A proverb. Usually used with a negative.
John gave Joe a baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
off one's high horse
come down off one's high horse
get down off your high horse
Not acting proud and scornful; humble and agreeable.
The girls were so kind to Nancy after her mother died that she came down off her high horse and made friends with them.
Acting friendly again; not angry and unpleasant any more; agreeable.
Sally wouldn't speak to anyone all afternoon because she couldn't go to the movies, but she's off her high horse now.
To become less arrogant; to assume a more modest disposition.
The boastful candidate for Congress quickly came down off his high horse when he was soundly beaten by his opponent.
on one's high horse
Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful.
Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do.
Mrs. Jones asked to see a less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high horse and said the shop did not sell cheap merchandise.
Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper.
Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn't giving him enough attention.
one-horse
Insignificant; modest; provincial.
Arnold's business is a one-horse operation; he never had a single employee.
put cart before the horse
get cart before the horse
have cart before the horse
Things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. An overused expression. Usually used with put but sometimes with get or have.
When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn't delivered, I told him he was putting the cart before the horse.
To get married first and then get a job is getting the cart before the horse.
put one's money on a scratched horse
To bet on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning.
You bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money on a scratched horse?
straight from the horse's mouth
Directly from the person or place where it began; from a reliable source or a person that cannot be doubted.
They are going to be married. I got the news straight from the horse's mouth - their minister.
John found out about the painting straight from the horse's mouth, from the painter himself.
wheelhorse
A reliable and industrious worker on whom one may depend.
Jake is such a good worker that he is the wheelhorse of our tiny firm.