dog in the manger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLiterary, Proverbial
Quick answer
What does “dog in the manger” mean?
A person who selfishly prevents others from using something they themselves cannot use or do not want.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who selfishly prevents others from using something they themselves cannot use or do not want.
Someone who spitefully denies others enjoyment of a benefit they themselves cannot or will not enjoy, purely out of malice or possessiveness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiom is known in both varieties, but is generally more common in British English due to its fable's traditional place in British children's literature.
Connotations
Identical connotations of selfishness and illogical spite.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in British writing; considered somewhat dated or literary in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “dog in the manger” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a dog in the manger.[Subject] is being a dog in the manger about [object].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dog in the manger” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's just dog-in-the-mangering about the company car; he never drives it himself.
American English
- She dog-in-the-mangered the project files, refusing to share them even after leaving the team.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Criticizing a competitor who buys up patents solely to block innovation, not to use them.
Academic
Describing historical figures or policies that blocked progress out of pure conservatism.
Everyday
Complaining about a flatmate who won't let anyone use the parking space they don't own a car for.
Technical
Rarely used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dog in the manger”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dog in the manger”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dog in the manger”
- Confusing it with 'underdog' or 'dog-eat-dog'.
- Using it to describe simple greed rather than the specific act of blocking others from something you don't need.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, that's the key point. They have no use for it themselves; their motivation is purely to deny it to others.
It comes from an Aesop's fable where a dog lying in a manger full of hay will not eat the hay itself, but growls and snaps at the oxen who want to eat it.
It is not very common in casual modern speech, being considered somewhat literary or proverbial. It is more often found in writing or formal criticism.
Yes, it can effectively describe anti-competitive behavior, such as a company holding onto key resources or licenses purely to block competitors, with no intention of using them.
A person who selfishly prevents others from using something they themselves cannot use or do not want.
Dog in the manger is usually literary, proverbial in register.
Dog in the manger: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɒɡ ɪn ðə ˈmeɪn.dʒə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɔːɡ ɪn ðə ˈmeɪn.dʒər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dog in the manger attitude”
- “dog-in-the-manger policy”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DOG lying in a MANGER (animal feed trough). It doesn't eat the hay but growls at the hungry horse. Dog (can't use it) + Manger (resource) = selfishly blocking others.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS CONTROL (even without need), SELFISHNESS IS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'dog in the manger' primarily criticize?