English

A 1666 etching by Wenceslaus Hollar illustrating the fable of the dog in the manger

Noun

dog in the manger ‎(plural dogs in mangers)

1. One who denies to others something that he or she cannot use.
   • 1930, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, “Notes on the Way to Dandi”, in Non-Violent Resistance, page 246:

     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.

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