World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesA la fuerza ninguna bestia es hermosa / No se puede obligar a un caballo a beber
Native Script:No se puede obligar a un caballo a beber
Pronunciation / Transliteration: no se puede obligar a un caballo a beber
"Intenté aconsejarle, pero no se puede obligar a un caballo a beber si no quiere."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
1 sense- 1
You can give someone an opportunity or provide them with everything they need to succeed, but you cannot force them to take advantage of it if they are unwilling.
"I've offered to help her study for the exam every night, but you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
This proverb dates back to at least the 12th century, with an early recorded version appearing in the English homilies around 1175 as 'Hwase mæg hors bringe to watere, ne mai he hine drenchen nule he silfe' (Whoever may bring a horse to water, nor may he make it drink unless it will itself). It vividly reflects rural observations about animal behavior, extended metaphorically to human agency and the limits of persuasion.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
On ne peut pas faire boire un âne qui n'a pas soif
Transliteration: on ne peut pas faire boire un âne qui n'a pas soif
"Je lui ai montré tous les documents, mais on ne peut pas faire boire un âne qui n'a pas soif."
Man kann ein Pferd zum Wasser führen, aber trinken muss es selbst
Transliteration: man kann ein pferd zum wasser führen, aber trinken muss es selbst
"Ich habe ihm den Weg gezeigt, aber man kann ein Pferd zum Wasser führen, aber trinken muss es selbst."
Non si può portare il cavallo all'acqua e costringerlo a bere
Transliteration: non si puo portare il cavallo all acqua e costringerlo a bere
"Gli ho dato tutte le opportunità, ma non si può portare il cavallo all'acqua e costringerlo a bere."
A la fuerza ninguna bestia es hermosa / No se puede obligar a un caballo a beber
Transliteration: no se puede obligar a un caballo a beber
Script: No se puede obligar a un caballo a beber
"Intenté aconsejarle, pero no se puede obligar a un caballo a beber si no quiere."
Podes levar o cavallo à água, mas não o podes obrigar a beber
Transliteration: podes levar o cavalo a agua, mas nao o podes obrigar a beber
Script: Podes levar o cavalo à água, mas não o podes obrigar a beber
"Tentei ajudar, mas podes levar o cavalo à água, mas não o podes obrigar a beber."
घोड़े को पानी तक ले जाया जा सकता है, पर उसे पिया नहीं जा सकता
Transliteration: ghode ko pani tak le jaya ja sakta hai, par use piya nahi ja sakta
"मैंने उसे समझाने की कोशिश की, पर घोड़े को पानी तक ले जाया जा सकता है, पर उसे पिया नहीं जा सकता।"
可以牵马到河边，不能 强迫它饮水
Transliteration: kěyǐ qiān mǎ dào hébiān, bùnéng qiǎngpò tā yǐnshuǐ
Script: 可以牵马到河边，不能强迫它饮水
"我把机会都给他了，但是可以牵马到河边，不能强迫它饮水。"
말을 물가로 끌고 갈 수는 있어도 억지로 물을 먹일 수는 없다
Transliteration: mal-eul mulg-a-ro kkeunh-go gal suneun iss-eodo eogjiro mul-eul meog-il suneun eobsda
"기회를 주었지만 말을 물가로 끌고 갈 수는 있어도 억지로 물을 먹일 수는 없다."
馬を水辺に連れて行くことはできても、水を飲ませることはできない
Transliteration: uma o mizube ni tsurete iku koto wa dekitemo, mizu o nomaseru koto wa dekinai
"彼に助け舟を出したが、馬を水辺に連れて行くことはできても、水を飲ませることはできないものだ。"
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