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Meaning of you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink | Babel Free

Phrase CEFR C2

Definitions

You can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it.

Equivalents

Deutsch man kann den Gaul zur Tränke führen, aber saufen muss er selber
Français on ne saurait faire boire un âne qui n'a pas soif
Italiano puoi portare un cavallo all'acqua ma non puoi farlo bere
日本語 馬を水辺に導く事は出来るが馬に水を飲ませる事は出来ない
Nederlands met onwillige honden is het slecht hazen vangen
Português você pode levar um cavalo até a água, mas não pode fazê-lo beber
Русский мо́жно привести́ ло́шадь к воде́, но нельзя́ заста́вить её пить

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

you can say that again you can't be half pregnant you can't catch old birds with chaff you can't fight City Hall you can't fix stupid you can't get a quart into a pint pot

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