ə dɒɡ ɪn ðə ˈmeɪndʒər
Animals
formal
advanced
- Literally:
- A dog lying in a manger full of hay it cannot eat
What does "a dog in the manger" mean?
A person who prevents others from enjoying something they themselves have no use for
Examples
- He never uses the vacation house but won't let his siblings use it either — a real dog in the manger.
- Don't be a dog in the manger; if you're not going to the concert, give your ticket to someone.
- The company acted like a dog in the manger, sitting on patents it never intended to develop.
Origin
From Aesop's fable. In use since at least the 16th century.
How to use it
Used to criticize selfish behavior. More common in British English.
Similar expressions
selfish person
spoilsport
killjoy
Opposites
generous soul
altruist
Related idioms
- kill two birds with one stone
To accomplish two goals with a single action
- let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret accidentally
- elephant in the room
An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss
- don't count your chickens before they hatch
Don't assume success before it actually happens
- hold your horses
To wait and be patient
- fish out of water
Someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in a particular situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "a dog in the manger" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.