What is a dog in the manger. The expression "dog in the manger": what does it mean? Use of the expression "dog in the manger" in literature and colloquial speech
There are phraseological expressions in our native speech that we use automatically if we want to accurately describe the essence of what is happening. They include the famous "dog in the manger". It can be called famous, if only because the well-known comedy of the Spaniard Lope de Vega (we are talking about her most talented Soviet film adaptation) has the same name.
Expression value
So what does this phraseological unit mean, and why was it named a whole work of art, where it is not about a dog at all?
The interpretation of the meaning of the expression in various explanatory dictionaries is approximately as follows: “a dog in the manger” is one who, having (or capturing) any benefits, does not use them himself and does everything so that others do not use them. Such an interpretation is easy to understand if you delve into the origin of the phraseological unit.
Origin of expression
There are two main versions about where he came from.
- The first says that the expression owes its origin to the fable of the ancient Greek writer Aesop "A dog in a manger." This is a short story about a dog that sits on hay, does not eat it itself and growls at the animals that come to the barn (in various translations, oxen, donkeys, horses). One of the animals can’t stand it and scolds the dog in their hearts: “Well, you’re a shameless creature, you don’t eat hay yourself, and don’t let us near it!”
- According to the second version, the phraseological unit owes its origin to the old Russian proverb and is its truncated version. It sounds like this: “The dog lies in the hay, does not eat itself and does not give to cattle.”
There are other sayings that have a similar meaning: “neither to myself nor to people (neither to myself nor to others)”, “mind one - do not give to anyone”, “I won’t do it myself, and I won’t give it to another”, “I won’t tell myself, and others I'm not giving it".
Use of the phrase
It is noteworthy that phraseological units, where the dog acts as a symbol of such intransigence, also exist in European languages. In particular, the English use the expression "the dog in the manger", which has the same translation as the title of the legendary Aesop's fable. The French in this case say "n'en mange pas et n'en donne pas", which translates as "does not eat and does not give." The same meaning is embedded in the French idiom "le chien du jardinire" ("gardener's dog").
The expression "dog in the manger" is especially popular in literature. For example, the heroes of the works of Dostoevsky's "Eternal Husband", Gogol's "Tyazhba" and Bondarev's "Coast" use this phraseological unit, characterizing other characters with it. And, of course, the very adaptation of the Spanish comedy Lope de Vega, which was mentioned earlier, is actually “the story of the dog that lies in the hay”. The main character, Countess Diana, plays the role of a "dog in the manger". She is in love with her secretary, but does not want to accept or let him go to another.
Examples of using
In what situations is it appropriate to use phraseological units?
If a person’s actions fit the description of the meaning of the expression, then more precisely the characteristics simply cannot be found. And many examples of such behavior can be taken from everyday life.
Here is a typical mini-story from childhood. Little children, brother and sister, were presented with a bicycle. The boy, having rolled enough, sat down to draw with pencils. The girl, seeing that the bike was free, ran to him. The brother, seeing that the sister is heading for the bike, immediately throws the pencils with a cry: “I want to ride!” He gets back on the bike and solemnly begins to pedal. The girl leaves with a sigh and sits down to play with dolls, patiently waiting her turn. The boy, after turning the pedals for a minute, again gives up this occupation and takes up the pencils. The sister again runs to the ill-fated bicycle, but the brother is ahead of her again and begins to pedal. This continues several times, and each time the boy stops all the girl's attempts to ride in every possible way. Everything ends with her sister's tears, and she, finally, unable to withstand the tyranny of her brother, runs to her parents to complain about him. In this story, a small child, without realizing it, behaves like the proverbial "dog in the manger."
Often adults behave in a similar way, and such behavior can manifest itself not only in relation to some thing or good, but also in human relationships. So, the phrase "dog in the manger" is often used in relation to the fair sex, if, being in a relationship with a man, they "keep on a short leash" and other applicants. Thus, they do not want to break ties with them and do not allow them to meet with other women, considering it as a “reserve option”. The reasons why such “dogs in the manger” act can be different: from the fear of failing with the man of your dreams or the fear of his betrayal, to the banal satisfaction of your ego.
In fact, in matters of the heart, men can also distinguish themselves and behave like a “dog in the manger”, this phraseological unit has no gender. In the film "Cruel Romance", the hero of the film Karandyshev behaves in this way at the end. Upon learning that his beloved Larisa does not want to marry him, and she does not heed any pleas to be with him, but prefers the life of an expensive kept woman to marriage with him, he shoots her. A phrase escapes from his lips, which became winged after the release of the film: “So don’t get you to anyone!” Here is such a drama with the participation of another "dog in the manger" with a sad end.
By the way, it is worth noting that the expression itself is actually universal and can be applied not only to a specific person. It can refer to a certain behavior of all living beings on the planet, and at the same time be fair in relation to any group of people and even entire states. Those who first hear the phraseological unit “dog in the manger” almost always experience interest and curiosity in it, mixed with a desire to quickly find out what the interlocutor has in mind. So it is worth paying tribute to human speech, it knows how to surprise with such riddles.
What does the expression "dog in the manger" mean?
The full expression sounds like this As a dog lies in the hay, and does not eat itself, and does not give to the cattle. That is, it means a person who does not use anything, but at the same time does not give to others. I will not give a similar expression to myself, or to people, or to others.
Of course, it expresses disapproval. About a person who has something that he doesn’t really need, but he still doesn’t give the opportunity to take, use it for others. For some reason, some sources interpret - as in relation to the greedy.
When a dog lies on hay, it becomes caked, absorbs its smell, and animals do not eat such hay. If the herbivore approaches the hay, then the dog also barks at it. Therefore, they say so to a person who grabs for himself what he does not need, and keeps it under him, and does not allow anyone to use it.
And I heard a slightly different continuation, slightly paraphrased, neither to himself nor to people. And I believe that the demonstration of the statement was beaten quite well in the Soviet film, which is called Dog in the manger, where Terekhova could neither accept nor let go of her lover, played by Mikhail Boyarsky, until they, through the efforts of Dzhigarkhanyan, became equal in their social status.
If we return to the meaning contained in this phrase (expression), then it is as follows: the dog keeps with a death grip what it most often does not need, but due to its greed does not give it to someone who really needs it. So often people in a relationship act, keeping a park of three unsightly, in their opinion, applicants on the alternate airfield, thereby sorting out the love of their life. And candidates are not released from the alternate airfield, and suddenly, the main option will fly like plywood over one of the capitals of Europe. It all reminds of heifers or goats on a string ...
Such an expression is often used in our real life, and so they say about some kind of person who is called such a dog, who seems to be sitting on hay, and does not eat it herself, because it is not her food at all, and does not give or let others to this hay.
And so they say about a person who, having some thing, and not using it, does not give it to others, although they ask him for it.
They can also talk about a girl who fools several guys and does not allow them to meet with other girls, keeping them on a short leash. And she does not need them and does not want to let go in order to create an aura of demand around herself.
Previously, at school in elementary grades at school, they studied the story of a dog in the hay, which described a dog lying in the hay and driving a cow away from this very hay. this expression came precisely from this story and became winged.
It means completely unreasonable greed. Like a dog lying on hay and not letting a herbivore near it. The dog itself does not need this hay - it does not eat it, but does not give it to others either. The question is - what does she get from this? But nothing! - such a nature I don’t am myself, and I won’t give it to another
People do exactly the same as this dog - they themselves do not use it and do not give it to others.
A dog in the manger is not for himself, not for others.
If you figure it out, the dog doesn’t eat hay, but, for example, lies on it and interferes with others.
There is a Soviet film in which this saying is perfectly played up. The film is called - Dog in the manger !!
Set expression dog in the manger is a truncated part of the proverb as a dog lies in the hay, and does not eat itself and does not date the cattle. It is believed that this expression is very ancient and, perhaps, goes back to Aesop's fable about a dog that growls at horses, preventing them from approaching hay, although it does not eat it itself.
This phraseological unit is used in speech when they speak disapprovingly of a person who does nothing himself and does not allow others to solve the problem that has arisen.
The expression dog in the manger is a well-known phraseological unit formed by truncation of longer statements. They have different options, but they boil down to the fact that the dog lying on the hay does not eat it herself, but does not allow others to eat either.
I really hope that there are not so many such dogs in the hay on Earth. 🙂
Our biology teacher said:
That is, this is an example of stinginess, greed.
The Spanish playwright Lope de Vega has a play with this title, where the countess keeps her secretary at a distance, loving him, but at the same time poisoning his life with jealousy for all the girls who are next to him, and a constant change in attitude towards him.
Once the Dog lay down in a barn in the hay. Lies, growls and does not allow horses to eat.
- Well, you shameless animal! one horse finally said to her. “And you don’t eat hay yourself, and don’t let us eat!”
Analogues of the saying "dog in the manger"
The use of phraseology in literature
-
“Lieutenant Knyazhko in these cases - is it clear who? Like a dog in the manger, neither to himself nor to others. Confuse the woman's head - and damn it "(Yu. Bondarev "Coast").
-
“I must warn you that you are now like a dog in the manger - sorry, this is just a comparison - neither to yourself nor to others”(Dostoevsky "The Eternal Husband")
-
“It’s just, the scoundrel, he found out that twenty thousand fell to my share, so why shouldn’t he! Like a dog in the manger: neither to himself nor to others.(Gogol "Litigation")
-
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that you close the kingdom of heaven to men, for you yourselves do not enter, and do not allow those who want to enter”(Gospel of Matthew 23:13)
-
“Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken the key of understanding: you yourselves did not enter, and prevented those who entered”(Gospel of Luke 11, 52)
Lope de Vega "Dog in the Manger"
A comedy in three acts by the famous Spanish playwright, poet and prose writer Lope de Vega (literally "The Gardener's Dog" - "El perro del hortelano"). Written in the first decade of the seventeenth century. Theme: love of a commoner and an aristocrat.
The stable expression "dog in the manger" is used less and less in the modern world. It completely sounds like this: "like a dog lies in the hay, and does not eat itself, and does not give to the cattle." Many people know the film with the same name.
Dog in the manger: how to understand
The meaning of the expression is the same: a certain person does not use any good, it does not bring him any benefit, but he does not want to give this benefit to others. But there are several options for the origin of the expression:
- the dog occupies the hay, the cows do not eat it, but the dog does not eat it either, it turns out: neither for himself, nor for people. Example: you came to a neighbor to ask him for plums that crumble and no one needs to make jam. The neighbor took pity, the plums fell off and rotted. It turns out that he didn’t use it himself, and didn’t let you turn plums into a blessing - jam;
- there is an opinion that after the dog has lain on the hay, the cow will no longer eat it, therefore it is believed that the dog itself does not enjoy the benefit, and interferes with others to live normally. But the meaning is about the same.
Important: the expression is used not only in relation to an individual, but also in relation to a group of persons or a whole society.
Example: There is a well in the village, the residents do not need it, it has been polluted. And people from the neighboring village suffer from lack of water and are ready to walk here. But the owners of the well do not allow this.
Synonyms
- "neither to myself nor to people";
- it’s hard to carry, but it’s a pity to throw it away;
- neither to oneself nor to others;
- I won’t give it to myself, and I won’t give it to another.
A bit of history
There is an opinion that the phraseological unit comes from Isop's fable. It tells that the dog was lying on the hay, and one of the cows was indignant, saying that she was shameless and "you don’t eat the hay yourself, and you won’t let us in."
There is a similar saying in many languages of the world, and everywhere it means about the same thing: a person who does not need any things, values or anything else, but who does not give them to others, is condemned by society.
Important: find out what the phrase means: "
Dog in the manger
The dog lies in the hay, does not eat itself and does not give to others
Not to myself, not to others
Wed dog at the roses.
Wed I must warn you that now you like a dog in the hay, - sorry, this is just a comparison - neither to yourself nor to others.
Dostoevsky. Eternal husband. 14.
Wed It's just, the scoundrel, he found out that twenty thousand fell to my share, so why shouldn't he! Like a dog in the manger: neither to himself nor to others.
Gogol. Litigation. 1. Flights.
Wed S "il vous aimait, vous n" en voudriez point, et cependant vous ne voulez pas qu "il soit à une autre. C" est faire comme le chien du jardinier.
Moliere. La Princesse d "Elide. 4, 6. Moron.
Wed Le chien du jardinier, qui ne mange pas de choux et ne veut pas que personne en mange.
Oudin. Curiosites franc.
The gardeners' dogs, not eating vegetable food themselves, protect the gardeners' vegetables and fruits from thieves.
Wed Contemnuntur ii, qui nec sibi, nec alteri, ut dicitur.
Contemptible are those who, as they say, neither to yourself nor to others.
cic. off. 2, 10, 36.
Wed Canis in praesepi.
Dog in a manger.
Erasm.
Wed Κύων εν φάτνη .
Lucianus. Tim. 14.
Wed Κύων εν φάτνη .
aesop.(Title of the fable).
Wed You don’t act differently than that dog that lies in the stable, and because it doesn’t eat barley itself, and it’s unlikely that a horse will be allowed to eat, although it could do it.
Lucian adversus indoctum. Wed Erasm. )
Wed Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that you close the Kingdom of Heaven to men, for you yourselves do not enter, and do not allow those who want to enter.
Matt. 23, 13.
Wed Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken the key of understanding: you yourselves did not enter, and prevented those who entered.
Onion. 11, 52.
Russian thought and speech. Yours and someone else's. Experience of Russian phraseology. Collection of figurative words and parables. T.T. 1-2. Walking and well-aimed words. Collection of Russian and foreign quotations, proverbs, sayings, proverbial expressions and individual words. SPb., type. Ak. Sciences.. M. I. Mikhelson. 1896-1912.
See what "dog in the hay" is in other dictionaries:
Dog in the Manger: Dog in the Manger is a play by Lope de Vega. A dog in the manger is a 1977 film by Jan Fried. Dog in the manger Pilar Miro film, 1996 ... Wikipedia
- "DOG IN THE HAY", USSR, Lenfilm, 1977, color, 138 min. Musical comedy. Based on the comedy of the same name by Lope de Vega (translated by M. Lozinsky). Cast: Margarita Terekhova (see. TEREHOVA Margarita Borisovna), Mikhail Boyarsky (see. BOYARSKY Mikhail ... Cinema Encyclopedia
DOG IN THE MANGER- who, what to be; do smth. Not to yourself, not to others. This means that a person, a group of persons or a social collective (X), as well as the state (L) has something at its disposal, but does not use it and does not allow others to use it. Speaks with... ... Phrasebook Russian language
dog in the manger- Who. Razg. Prejudice Someone does not use anything himself and does not allow others to use it. About a human. Lieutenant Knyazhko is clear who is in these cases? Like a dog in the manger, neither to himself nor to others. Confusing the woman's head and not a damn thing. (Yu. Bondarev. Shore). Tomorrow… … Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language
1. Unfold Unapproved About the one who does not use what l. and does not give to others. BMS 1998, 537; Mokienko 1990, 26, 93. 2. Jarg. arm. Unapproved Sergeant major. Maksimov 394 Big Dictionary Russian sayings
dog in the manger- (Like) a dog / ka in the hay who l. About a man who himself does not use anything. and does not give to others ... Dictionary of many expressions
DOG IN THE MANGER- 1977, 2 episodes, 138 min., color, yours. genre: musical. dir. Jan Fried, sc. Jan Frid (based on the comedy of the same name by Lope de Vega, translated by Mikhail Lozinsky), operas. Evgeny Shapiro, art. Semyon Malkin, comp. Gennady Gladkov, sound. Gennady Korkhovoi, lyrics ... ... Lenfilm. Annotated Film Catalog (1918-2003)
A dog in the manger (Spanish: El perro del hortelano) is a comedy by the Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, written around 1604 and published in 1618. Its name, which became catch phrase in many languages, apparently goes back to ancient Greek ... Wikipedia
The dog lies in the hay, does not eat itself and does not give to the cattle. See ENVY GREED... IN AND. Dal. Proverbs of the Russian people
This term has other meanings, see Dog in the manger. Dog in the manger Jean ... Wikipedia
Books
- Dog in the Manger by Lope de Vega. The name of Lope de Vega is on a par with the names of the greatest geniuses of the Renaissance - Dante, Petrarch, Shakespeare, Cervantes. The plays "The Valencian Widow" and "The Dog in the Manger", included in this book, ...
