You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Prov. You can present someone with an opportunity, but you cannot force him or her to take advantage of it. •

Jill: I told Katy about all the jobs that are available at our company, but she hasn't applied for any of them. Jane: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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/it drink). something that you say which means you can give someone the opportunity to do something, but you cannot force them to do it if they do not want to. I made all the arrangements,… …   New idioms dictionary

  • You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. — You can lead a horse to water (but you can t make him/it drink). something that you say which means you can give someone the opportunity to do something, but you cannot force them to do it if they do not want to. I made all the arrangements,… …   New idioms dictionary

  • 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 proverb you can give someone an opportunity, but you can t force them to take it. Main Entry: ↑horse …   English terms dictionary

  • you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink — This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink — you can lead (or take) a horse to water but you can t make him drink proverb you can give someone an opportunity, but you can t force them to take it …   Useful english dictionary

  • you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink — you can ˌlead/ˌtake a horse to ˌwater, but you ˌcan t make it ˈdrink idiom (saying) you can give sb the opportunity to do sth, but you cannot force them to do it if they do not want to Main entry: ↑horseidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink — you can provide what they need but you cannot force them to use it    We provide information, but I wonder if they read it. You can lead a horse to water …   English idioms

  • You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink —   This idiom means you can offer something to someone, like good advice, but you cannot make them take it …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • You can lead a horse to water. — (but you can t make him/it drink). something that you say which means you can give someone the opportunity to do something, but you cannot force them to do it if they do not want to. I made all the arrangements, bought the ticket, and even took… …   New idioms dictionary

  • you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink — you can ˌlead/ˌtake a horse to ˌwater, but you ˌcan t make it ˈdrink idiom (saying) you can give sb the opportunity to do sth, but you cannot force them to do it if they do not want to Main entry: ↑horseidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • you can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make him drink — The word the is frequently omitted from the proverb and lead substituted for take. c 1175 Old English Homilies (EETS) 1st ser. 9 Hwa is thet mei thet hors wettrien the him self nule drinken [who can give water to the horse that will not drink of… …   Proverbs new dictionary

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