dog in the manger
dog in the manger (idiom)
/ˌdɒɡ ɪn ðə ˈmeɪn.dʒər/ (UK), /ˌdɔːɡ ɪn ðə ˈmeɪn.dʒɚ/ (US)
Meanings
- A selfish person who will not use something but will not let others use it either.
- Someone who blocks others from enjoying something they do not need.
- A person who keeps opportunities from others out of jealousy or spite.
Synonyms: selfish person; spoiler; obstructionist; begrudger; jealous person; possessive person; killjoy; blocker.
Example Sentences
- Mark never reads the old books in his office, yet he refuses to lend them to anyone—a real dog in the manger.
- The company left the property unused for years and refused to sell it, behaving like a dog in the manger.
- Emma did not want the promotion herself, yet she tried to prevent her coworker from getting it—a classic dog in the manger
Etymology and Origin
The Ancient Roots of the Idiom
The idiom “dog in the manger” describes a person who selfishly blocks others from using or enjoying something they themselves have no need for. Its story comes from an old Greek fable about a dog that lies in a feeding trough full of hay or grain. The dog does not eat the fodder but snarls and prevents a horse or oxen from doing so. This tale has been told in different versions over time, but the core idea remains the same: spiteful obstruction.
The Popular Fable Retelling
A dog looking out for its afternoon nap jumped into the manger of an ox and lay there cozily upon the straw. But soon the ox, returning from its afternoon work, came up to the manger and wanted to eat some of the straw. The dog, angry at being awakened from its slumber, stood up and barked at the ox, and whenever it came near attempted to bite it. At last, the ox had to give up the hope of getting at the straw, and went away hungry. This version captures the spirit of the story that has become most familiar to readers over the centuries.
Greek Beginnings and Early References
The fable first appeared in ancient Greece. A Greek writer named Diogenianus recorded an early version in the first century, explaining it as behavior where someone neither uses a thing nor lets others have it. In the second century, the satirist Lucian used the image twice in his works, once with a sexual metaphor about jealous lovers who guard what they cannot enjoy. Another early echo appears in the Gospel of Thomas, where it criticizes those who shut doors on others. These references show the metaphor was already known and applied to human flaws like envy and possessiveness long before it became a fixed English phrase.
Connection to Aesop and Later Additions
Although many people link the story to Aesop’s fables, it was not part of the original ancient collections. The connection came later, in the 15th century, when a German printer named Heinrich Steinhowel added it to his edition of Aesop around 1476. He titled it something like “Of the envious dog” and used it to teach a moral about begrudging others what one cannot enjoy. This addition helped spread the tale widely in Europe, even though older sources never tied it directly to Aesop.
First Appearances in English Writing
The idea reached English literature in the late 1300s. Poet John Gower included a version in his long poem Confessio Amantis around 1390. He wrote:
“Though it be not the hound’s habit / To eat chaff, yet will he warn off / An ox that commeth to the barn / Thereof to take up any food.”
This shows the fable was known in England before the full idiom took hold. The more direct phrase “dog in the manger” appeared in print in the 1500s. One early example comes from William Bullein’s 1564 work A dialogue against the feuer pestilence:
“Like vnto cruell Dogges liyng in a Maunger, neither eatyng the Haye theim selues ne sufferyng the Horse to feed thereof hymself.”
The Country of Origin
The fable and its metaphor originated in ancient Greece. From there, it traveled through European literature, gaining new layers in places like England, Germany, and Spain. While English speakers made the exact idiom popular, the roots are clearly Greek.
Interesting Facts and Variations
Over the years, the story picked up different shades. In Spain, a similar idea appears in Lope de Vega’s 1618 play El Perro del Hortelano (The Gardener’s Dog), where a woman acts jealously like a dog guarding vegetables it cannot eat. Some versions add a sexual twist, showing jealous guardians who block others from pleasure they cannot have themselves. In modern times, the phrase has become less common in everyday American speech, though it still appears in literature and discussions about selfishness. One fun note is how artists in the 1800s loved illustrating it, often showing a grumpy dog staring down hungry animals, turning the moral lesson into charming pictures for books and plates.
Modern Meaning and Use
Today, calling someone a “dog in the manger” points out petty or mean behavior—keeping a parking spot, tool, or opportunity unused just to stop others from having it. The image remains powerful because it captures a very human flaw that feels familiar across cultures and centuries. The simple story from long ago still helps us name and understand everyday selfishness.
Variants
- a dog in the manger
- dog-in-the-manger
Animal, Behavior, Dog, Jealousy, Selfish
Similar Idioms
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