The phrase “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink” is a proverb that means you can provide someone with a nice opportunity, but you can’t make them take it if they don’t want to. It expresses the idea that people, like horses, will do as they will. The full phrase is usually used to show frustration or resignation when someone refuses to accept your advice or help.
This phrase is very old and may date back to the 12th century. It was recorded in English in a book called Old English Homilies in 1175. It also appeared in John Heywood’s proverb collection of 1546. It has been used by many famous writers and speakers throughout history.
Here is an example of how to use this phrase in a sentence:
- My friend Brock doesn’t have a job so he’s struggling to make ends meet. I offered him money to help out, but to my surprise, he refused to take it. Later, I told my dad: “It’s hard to believe that Brock declined my money considering his circumstances.” “Well,” said my dad, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
