Meaning of the word "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" in English
What does "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink
US /ju kæn lid ə hɔrs tu ˈwɔtər, bʌt ju kænt meɪk hɪm drɪŋk/
UK /ju kæn liːd ə hɔːs tu ˈwɔːtə, bʌt ju kɑːnt meɪk hɪm drɪŋk/
Idiom
you can provide someone with an opportunity, but you cannot force them to take advantage of it
Example:
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I gave him all the study materials, but he still failed; you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
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We offered her a promotion, but she turned it down. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.