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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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 drink | You can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it. |
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
puoi condurre un cavallo all'acqua ma non puoi farlo bere
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 ask me, I ask whoyou can't put a wise head on young shouldersyou can say that againyou can't educate porkyou can't keep a good man downyou can catch more flies with honey than with vinegaryou can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pigyou can hang your hat on thatyou can't judge a book by its coveryou can't make this stuff upyou can't get a quart into a pint potyou call thisyou can't be half pregnantyou can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
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"You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2019. Web. 22 May 2019. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-but-you-can't-make-him-drink_45143>.
