You can lead a horse to water, but you can\'t make him drink

The phrase You can lead a horse to water, but you can\'t make him drink is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of You can lead a horse to water, but you can\'t make him drink.

Meaning of "You can lead a horse to water, but you can\'t make him drink"

Meaning

The idiom 'You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink' is used to express the idea that one can offer guidance, advice or assistance to someone, but they may or may not take it, choose to ignore it, or reject it entirely. The phrase is an analogy for parents and teachers who offer guidance and advice but find that the person being instructed does not necessarily follow it, even when it is in their best interests.

Etymology

The origin of this idiom is uncertain, although it has been suggested to have been derived from traditional English proverb from the 15th century. The proverb has been attributed to Saint Jerome, who is said to have used the phrase in his translation of the Bible, but this has not been verified. This idiom is also found in many languages, in various forms.

Usage

The idiom "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" can be used in a variety of contexts. It is most commonly used to describe a situation where someone offers advice or assistance, but the person being instructed doesn't take the advice or doesn't make use of the help that was offered. The phrase can also be used to describe a situation in which someone has the potential to do something, but is not willing to take the necessary steps or make the necessary effort to do so.

Example Sentences

• You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. No matter how hard you try to help, my son just won't listen!
• I'm trying to help my friend find a job, but it's like I'm leading a horse to water. He just won't take action and apply for the positions he's interested in.
• My parents can lead a horse to water, but they can't make him drink. They can provide me with advice, but ultimately I'm the one who has to make the decisions.

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.