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.
Submitted on February 25, 2019
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:
můžete vést koně k vodě, ale nemůžete ho donutit pít
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
je kunt een paard naar water leiden, maar je kunt hem niet laten drinken
atı suya götürebilirsin ama içmesini sağlayamazsın
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's …you are what you eatyou can't make an omelette without brea…you can't always get what you wantyou can't make this stuff upyou can't put a wise head on young shou…you and whose armyyou can't polish a turdyou can cure bacon butyou can't keep a good man downyou can hang your hat on thatyou can catch more flies with honey tha…you can't get a quart into a pint potyou can't educate pork
How to pronounce this phrase?
AlexUS English
DanielBritish
KarenAustralian
VeenaIndian
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Citation
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"You Can Lead a Horse to Water but You Can't Make Him Drink." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2020. Web. 9 Jul 2020. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water-but-you-can't-make-him-drink_45143>.
