You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink

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You can give someone an opportunity, but you can’t force him or her to take it, you can make it easy for someone, but you can’t force them to take it

Etymology:

  • This idiom originates from the 12th century when the main source of transportation was horses. The rider of the horse was well aware of the thirst of horse after a long distance especially on a hot day. Although you could take the horse to the cool banks of water, but that doesn’t mean that the horse will drink for sure. This expression has been used for centuries to refer to people who do things their own way even though you give them an opportunity or try to persuade them.
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There are various jobs available in our company, but he hasn’t applied for any of them. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.

Additional definitions for 'You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink':

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drinkYou can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it.
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Translation

Find a translation for the You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink phrase in other languages:

vous pouvez conduire un cheval à l'eau mais vous ne pouvez pas le faire boire

אתה יכול להוביל סוס למים אבל אתה לא יכול לגרום לו לשתות

atı suya götürebilirsin ama içmesini sağlayamazsın

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similiar to You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink

you can't make this stuff upyou can cure bacon butyou can't polish a turdyou and whose armyyou beautyyou can't judge a book by its coveryou can't be half pregnantyou can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pigyou are what you eatyou ask me, I ask whoyou can catch more flies with honey than with vinegaryou can't fight city hallyou can't keep a good man downyou bet

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"You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2019. Web. 21 Mar. 2019. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-but-you-can't-make-him-drink_45143>.

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