Dog in the Manger: The Mean Keeper of Coveted Things 😡🚫🐎
Related Terms and Similar Expressions
- Cat’s Paws: Someone used by another as a tool; unknowing accomplice.
- Hold a Grudge: To maintain resentment or anger for a long period.
- Grudge Keeper: Synonymous with “Holding a Grudge.”
- Spoilsport: Someone who doesn’t want others to have fun, even if they won’t enjoy it themselves.
Definitions and Origins
Dog in the Manger: An individual who prevents others from enjoying something despite having no use for it themselves. This phrase hails from Aesop’s fables where a dog, lounging on the hay in a manger, snarls at the horses trying to eat it.
Synonyms
- Jealous Keeper
- Misery Merchant
- Hindrance Hound
Antonyms
- Generous Soul
- Benevolent Benefactor
- Charitable Chap
Humor-Filled Quotes and Proverbs
- “Some folks are like dogs in the manger; they neither enjoy life nor let others enjoy it.”
- “Why be a dog in the manger when you can be a friend in need?”
References and Recommendations
- Literature: Aesop’s Fables – “The Dog in the Manger”
- Books: “Don’t Be a Dog in the Manger” by Prudence Pennyworth (A modern twist on classic fables for children)
- Songs: “Mean Mr. Mustard” by The Beatles – A whimsical depiction of a similarly mean-spirited character.
- Poetry: Ode to Greed by Shel Silverstein – A poem admonishing humankind’s selfish tendencies.
- Movies: The Grinch – Although not a direct take, the theme echoes that of the dog: preventing joy out of sheer spite.
### Which character trait best fits the term "Dog in the Manger"?
- [x] Selfishness
- [ ] Generosity
- [ ] Curiousness
- [ ] Joviality
> **Explanation:** "Dog in the Manger" embodies selfishness, as it describes keeping something wanted by another without benefiting from it oneself.
### What is the origin of "Dog in the Manger"?
- [x] Aesop's Fables
- [ ] Shakespeare's Plays
- [ ] Biblical Stories
- [ ] Greek Mythology
> **Explanation:** The term "Dog in the Manger" originates from Aesop's Fables, specifically a tale about a dog preventing horses from eating hay which it doesn't want itself.
### True or False: A person called "Dog in the Manger" is likely to generously share their possessions
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** This term describes someone who is expressly unwilling to share, even when they don't need the object in question themselves.
May your journey in the world of words be ever inspiring. Remember, don’t be a “Dog in the Manger”—share the wealth of knowledge generously!
Yours in Clichés and Classics, Eloise Fableweaver
