dog in the manger

dog in the manger
dog in the manger
one who unreasonably prevents other people from doing or having what one does not wish them to do or have. (From one of Aesop's fables in which a dog—which cannot eat hay—lay in the hayrack [manger] and prevented the other animals from eating the hay.) •

Jane is a real dog in the manger. She cannot drive, but she will not lend anyone her car.

•

If Martin were not such a dog in the manger, he would let his brother have that dinner jacket he never wears.

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{n. phr.} A person who is unwilling to let another use what he himself has no use for. * /Although Valerie lives alone in that big house, she is like a dog in the manger when it comes to letting someone sharing it with her./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • dog in the manger — {n. phr.} A person who is unwilling to let another use what he himself has no use for. * /Although Valerie lives alone in that big house, she is like a dog in the manger when it comes to letting someone sharing it with her./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • dog in the manger — (UK) If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don t want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • dog in the manger — dog in the manger, adj. a person who selfishly keeps something that he or she does not really need or want so that others may not use or enjoy it. [1555 65] * * * …   Universalium

  • dog in the manger — (UK)    If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don t want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    A person referred to as a dog in the manger is someone who stops others from… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • dog-in-the-manger — a dog in the manger someone who keeps something that they do not really want in order to prevent anyone else from having it. The British have a dog in the manger attitude to the island, no longer needing it themselves, but wanting to deny it to… …   New idioms dictionary

  • dog in the manger — noun One who denies others what he cannot use himself. No adjective is strong enough for characterizing this wicked dog in the manger policy. From various sources I hear tales of such wanton destruction of nations property in all parts of India …   Wiktionary

  • dog\ in\ the\ manger — n. phr. A person who is unwilling to let another use what he himself has no use for. Although Valerie lives alone in that big house, she is like a dog in the manger when it comes to letting someone sharing it with her …   Словарь американских идиом

  • dog in the manger — a person who will not share something he does not use or need    He s a dog in the manger about his office space. He doesn t use it, but he won t let us have it …   English idioms

  • Dog in the manger —   (UK)    If someone acts like a dog in the manger, they don t want other people to have or enjoy things that are useless to them …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • The Dog in the Manger — The story and metaphor of The Dog in the Manger derives from an old Greek fable which has been transmitted in several different versions. Interpreted variously over the centuries, it is used now of those who spitefully prevent others from having… …   Wikipedia

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