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dog in the manger
01
someone who selfishly prevents others from using or enjoying something that they themselves have no use for
IdiomWhat is the origin of the idiom "make a go of something" and when to use it?
The idiom "dog in the manger" originates from an ancient Greek fable attributed to the storyteller Aesop. This phrase is used to describe someone who selfishly prevents others from using or enjoying something that they have no intention of using or benefiting from themselves.
Examples
The new employee does n't like the project but wo n't let anyone else take over. He's acting like a dog in the manger.
They're not using the office space, but they wo n't let us move there either. It's like they're being a dog in the manger.
