The dog in the manger understand the expression. What does the expression "dog in the manger" mean? Life story

Aphorisms, quotes, catchphrases: a storehouse of wisdom left by descendants. The world does not stand still, develops, changes, much in it develops in a spiral, but there are things that go in a circle. This is not good, but not bad either. Human relations. Friendship, love, rivalry, hypocrisy, respect. The depth, the essence of these relations is huge and diverse. You can reflect, explain, feel them using those expressions, quotes, sayings that were invented by our ancestors. Today we'll talk about one of them. So what does the expression “dog in the manger” mean?

History of appearance

To answer this question, let us turn to the origin of the expression itself. The first who introduced this phrase into our life was the ancient Greek fabulist Aesop. The fable is about a dog, which, fulfilling the instructions of its owner, does not allow other animals to approach the hay. The fable is called "A dog in a manger", over time the phrase has changed, the expression dog in the manger is more often used. People have repeatedly returned to this already famous phrase, which in a nutshell explains what is happening. Let's look at the following points and take a closer look at what the expression "dog in the manger" means.

Favorite movie

Back in Soviet times, a musical feature film "Dog in the Manger" was shot based on the novel of the same name by Lope de Vega. In the title of the tape itself, a catch phrase was used, but in an abbreviated form. Everyone's favorite film performed by the stars of Soviet cinema reveals the meaning of the phrase. Its meaning boils down to the following: it's still the same dog that bites and doesn't eat itself. Another similar expression can be cited as an example: "I myself will not, and I will not give to others." Or here's a couple of similar expressions: “Neither for yourself nor for people”, “Live by yourself and give to others”. The heroine of the tape has a difficult choice: to marry a rich and noble man or to give her heart to a beautiful, but, alas, not of noble birth secretary. The noble lady is torn between the impulse of the heart and common sense. Her temperamental nature resembles the actions of the same dog, which does not need a secretary, but on the other hand ... "love, why are you torturing me?" She does not give rest to her servant, but she is also unable to determine herself.

Love, devotion and wisdom

If the actions of the dog are more or less clear to us (the desire to serve the owner), then in human relations something else comes out. On the one hand, the character (or another person in a similar situation) cannot make a choice and let go of the situation. It doesn't look the best. But if you look from the other side, one wonders why, for example, our heroine behaves in this way.

So, from this side, let's take a look at what the expression “Dog in the manger” means. Yes, she cannot decide, give false hope, her feelings are very strong and reliable. Moreover, apart from love and devotion, wisdom comes into play. What will become of love if society turns away, what will happen next to them, and possibly to their unborn children, if social isolation overtakes them? Yes, of course, you can fight for your love, but what will be the outcome? What can happen, how much can this situation cripple, yes, just cripple the soul? So we see what the expression "dog in the manger" means.

The first impression is the absence of any meaning and even anger. But now the second impression is deeper, more meaningful, it clarifies the situation. The meaning of the expression "dog in the manger" is much deeper on closer examination.

It is not for nothing that the Russian language is called great and mighty. The vocabulary that constitutes it is true wealth. And the real diamonds among all this splendor are countless phraseological units. They enrich, decorate, make colloquial and literary speech especially expressive.

The meaning of phraseological units

Throwing remarks with each other, we sometimes do not even notice that we use this or that in a conversation so organically they are inscribed in the language. And the most interesting thing is that, when pronouncing folk or book phraseological units, we hardly think about their inner meaning. And even more so over the origin. And if someone suddenly asked specifically what the expression "dog in the manger" means, then it would not immediately be found what to answer. Although it is used quite often.

One of the phraseological dictionaries explains the meaning of the idiom in this way: it denotes a situation when someone does not allow another to use an object, thing, attitude, opportunities, which are not necessary at all. The use of this phrase is habitual, of course, with a disapproving connotation in relation to the person. However, it can be applied even when speaking of a group of people, a social collective, and even a whole state. And its meaning is transparent: when all these subjects own something, but they themselves do not use, and do not allow others to do it.

The history of the origin of the expression "dog in the manger"

First of all, contemporaries remember a TV movie with this name. They are sure that it is from him that one must dance to determine what the expression "dog in the manger" means.

Some will remember that the tape was based on the comedy Lope de Vega. But not everyone will understand why both the original source and the film "Dog in the Manger" are named so. The meaning will become clear when we learn about the origin of this expression, regarding which there are two points of view.

According to the first, it goes back to the fable of the same name by Aesop. It is about a dog lying in the hay and growling menacingly at horses willing to approach him. “What a shameless creature,” one horse could not resist. "And you don't eat hay yourself, and you won't let us in." Hence the moral is derived: live, they say, and let others live.

The second opinion goes into Russian folklore. It is believed that this is a truncated form of the proverb: "The dog lies in the hay, he does not eat and does not give to the cattle."

Synonyms

Having found out what the expression "dog in the manger" means, you can easily find stable phrases with a similar meaning. This can include the phrase “neither to myself nor to others”: “Well, what are you, my friend, deciding with this dacha? You have to do something, otherwise - neither yourself nor others. " In this situation, the expression in question is also appropriate.

Quite the same meaning with "a dog in the manger" have such phraseological units with an explanation of a similar situation, such as "And I myself will not grumble (s), and I will not give to another." And indirectly: "It's hard to carry, but it's a pity to throw it away."

By the way, a similar parallel can be traced in other European languages, which allows us to make an assumption about the ancient origin of the image of a dog in the hay as a kind of standard of greed, greed, and hostility towards other people.

So, (like) the dog in the manger (literal translation of "a dog in a manger"), like the French n'en mange pas et n'en donne pas ("it does not eat and it does not give"), as well as le chien du jardinière ("gardener's dog") have the same meaning as our "dog in the manger".

Antonyms

As a rule, phraseological antonyms are much less common than, say, synonyms. Antonyms-idioms, opposite in meaning to what the expression "dog in the manger" means, are not recorded in modern dictionaries of the Russian language.

More or less in a certain context, the phrase “as much as your heart desires” is similar in meaning: “Here is Vanka and says: is it that I need all this alone? Take as much as you like. "

With a slight stretch, we can consider the phrase from the Epistle of the Apostle James: "Every gift is good" as an antonym.

Use of the expression "dog in the manger" in literature and colloquial speech

The aphorism under consideration has a very wide use. Book phraseological units, as a rule, in the most natural way pass into spoken language so that then it is difficult to determine which of them was primary.

The expression "dog in the manger" is appropriate to quote from the already mentioned comedy (film of the same name). The main character, Teodoro, uses this phraseological unit when addressing Diana.

It is used very often in journalism. So, in one of the newspapers there was a story about an elderly man who lived alone in an apartment of three rooms, barely and often listed as debtors, but in no way wanted to make room for his own niece, who needed housing. The author of the article exclaims: “In a word, like a dog in the manger. And I myself will not, and will not give to others! " Thus, with the help of this stable expression, the journalist recreates before the eyes of the reader a true image of the poor fellow. Greedy, stubborn, like the hero of Aesop's fable.

What does the expression "dog in the manger" mean?

Expression dog in the manger - This is a well-known phraseological unit, formed by truncating longer sentences. They have various options, but they boil down approximately to the fact that a dog lying in the hay does not eat it itself, but does not allow others to eat either.

I really hope that such dogs in the manger not so much 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.

The full expression sounds like Like 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 something, but at the same time does not give to others. A similar expression neither myself nor people or I myself will not gurgle and I will not give to others.

Expresses, of course, disapproval. About a person who has something that he does not really need, but he still does not give the opportunity to take, use it for others. For some reason, some sources interpret it - as in relation to a greedy person.

When a dog lies on the hay, it cakes, absorbs its smell, and animals do not eat such hay. If the herbivore approaches the hay, then the dog will also bark at it. Therefore, they say this to a person who grabs 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, a bit paraphrased, neither to myself nor to people... And I believe that the demonstration of the statement was played quite well in the Soviet film, which is called Dog in the manger, where Terekhova could not accept or let go of her lover, played by Mikhail Boyarsky, until, through the efforts of Dzhigarkhanyan, they became equal in their social status.

If you return to the meaning contained in this phrase (expression), then it is as follows: dog holds with a stranglehold on herself what she most often does not need, but due to her greed, she does not give it to someone who really needs it. So often people in a relationship do, keeping on alternate airfield a park-three of unsightly, in their opinion, applicants, thus dealing with the love of their life. And candidates are not released from the alternate airfield, and suddenly, the main option will fly over one of the capitals of Europe with plywood. It reminds all this of heifers or goats on a string ...

This expression is often used in our real life, and so they say about some kind of person who is called such a dog, which seems to be sitting in the hay, and does not eat it herself, because this is not her food at all, and does not give and does not allow others to this hay.

And that is how 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 too.

They can also talk about a girl fooling several guys and keeping them on a short leash to keep them from dating other girls. And she does not need them and does not want to let go, in order to create an aura of demand around herself.

Earlier in 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 chasing a cow away from this very hay. this expression came precisely from this story and became winged.

It means completely unfounded greed. Like a dog lying in the hay and not allowing herbivore, for example. The dog itself does not need this hay - it doesn’t eat it, but it doesn’t give it to others either. The question is - what does she get from this? And nothing! - nature is such a I am not myself, and I will not give it to another;

People do exactly the same as this dog - they do not use it themselves and do not give to others.

Dog in the manger - not to yourself, not to others.

If you look at it, the dog does not eat hay, but for example, it lies on it and interferes with others.

There is a Soviet film in which this proverb plays well. The film is called - The dog in the manger !!

Stable expression dog in the manger is a truncated part of the proverb like 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, possibly, goes back to Aesop's fable about a dog that growls at horses, preventing them from approaching the 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.

There are such phraseological expressions in our native speech, which we use automatically if we want to accurately describe the essence of what is happening. These include the famous "dog in the manger"... It can be called famous if only because the famous comedy of the Spaniard Lope de Vega (we are talking about its most talented Soviet film adaptation) has the same name.

Expression value

So what does this phraseological unit mean, and why was a whole work of art named after it, where it is not about a dog at all?

Deciphering the meaning of expression in various explanatory dictionaries something like the following: "a dog in the manger" is someone who, having (or seizing) any benefits, does not use them himself and does everything so that others do not use them. This interpretation is easy to understand if you delve into the origin of the phraseological unit.

Origin of expression

There are two main theories about where it came from.

1. The first says that the expression owes its origin to the fable of the ancient Greek writer Aesop "The dog in the manger." This is a short story about a dog that has settled down in the hay, does not eat it and growls at the animals that come to the barn (in various translations of oxen, donkeys, horses). Some of the animals can't stand it and in their hearts scolds the dog: "Well, you are a shameless creature, you yourself do not eat hay, and you do not let us near him!"
2. According to the second version, the phraseological unit owes its origin to an old Russian proverb and is a truncated version of it. It sounds like this: "The dog is lying in the hay, he does not eat and does not give to the cattle."

There are other sayings that have a similar meaning: "neither to myself, nor to people (neither to myself, nor to others)", "mind one - not to give to anyone", "I will not, and I will not give to another", "and not to yourself, and to others I'm not giving it".

Use of a phrase

It is noteworthy that phraseological units, where the dog is a symbol of such intransigence, 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. In this case, the French 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 phraseological unit "le chien du jardinire" ("gardener's dog").

The expression "dog in the manger" is especially popular in literature. For example, the heroes of Dostoevsky's "Eternal Husband", Gogol's "Lawsuit" and Bondarev's "Coast" use this phraseological unit, characterizing other characters. And, of course, the very film adaptation of the Spanish comedy Lope de Vega, which was mentioned earlier, is actually "the story of a dog that lies in the hay." The main character, Countess Diana, plays the role of "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 a phraseological unit?

If a person's actions fit the description of the meaning of expression, then more precisely the characteristics simply cannot be found. And many examples of this behavior can be taken from everyday life.

Here is a typical mini-story from childhood. Little children, brother and sister, received a bicycle. The boy, having ridden to his fill, sat down to draw with pencils. The girl, seeing that the bike was free, ran to him. The brother, seeing that his sister is heading for the bike, immediately throws pencils with a cry: "I want to ride!" He gets back on the bike and starts pedaling solemnly. The girl leaves with a sigh and sits down to play with dolls, patiently waiting for her turn. The boy, having twisted the pedals for a minute, again gives up this occupation and takes up pencils. The sister again runs to the ill-fated bike, but the brother again gets ahead of her and begins to pedal. This continues several times, and the boy every time in every possible way suppresses all the girl's attempts to ride. 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 notorious "dog in the manger."

Often, adults behave in a similar way, and such behavior can manifest itself not only in relation to any 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 sever ties with them and do not allow them to meet with other women, considering them as a “reserve option”. The considerations on which such "dogs in the manger" act can be different: from the fear of failing with the man of their dreams or the fear of his betrayal, to the banal satisfaction of their ego.

In fact, in matters of the heart, men can also distinguish themselves and behave like a "dog in the manger", this phraseological unit does not have gender. In the film "Cruel Romance", the hero of the film, Karandyshev, at the end behaves exactly like this. Learning that his beloved Larissa does not want to marry him, and she does not heed any pleas to be with him, but prefers the life of a dear kept woman to marry him, he shoots her. A phrase that became winged after the release of the film comes off his lips: "So don't get anyone else!" Here is 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 things 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 have interest and curiosity in it, mixed with the desire to quickly find out what the interlocutor has in mind. So it is worth paying tribute to human speech, she knows how to surprise with such riddles.

Dog in the manger

The dog lies in the hay, does not eat itself and does not give to others

Neither myself nor others

Wed Dog at roses.

Wed I must warn you that you are now, like a dog in the manger, - sorry, this is just a comparison - neither myself nor others.

Dostoevsky. Eternal husband. fourteen.

Wed Just, you scoundrel, he found out that I had twenty thousand, so that's why not him! Like a dog in the manger: neither to himself nor to others.

Gogol. Litigation. 1. Spans.

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.

Molière. 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. Curiosités franç.

Gardeners 'dogs, not eating plant foods themselves, protect gardeners' vegetables and fruits from thieves.

Wed Contemnuntur ii, qui nec sibi, nec alteri, ut dicitur.

Despicable are those who, as they say, neither myself nor others.

Cic. Off. 2, 10, 36.

Wed Canis in praesepi.

A dog in a manger.

Erasm.

Wed Κύων εν φάτνη .

Lucianus. Tim. fourteen.

Wed Κύων εν φάτνη .

Aesop. (Title of the fable).

Wed You do nothing differently than the dog that lies in the stable because it doesn’t eat barley itself - and the horse is unlikely to allow it to eat, although it could do it.

Lucianus adversus indoctum. Wed Erasm. )

Wed Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for shutting the Kingdom of Heaven to men, for you do not enter yourself and do not admit those who want to enter.

Matt. 23, 13.

Wed Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken the key of understanding: you yourself did not enter and you hindered 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 quotes, proverbs, sayings, proverbial expressions and individual words. SPb., Type. Ak. sciences.... M. I. Mikhelson. 1896-1912.

See what "dog in the manger" is in other dictionaries:

The Dog in the Manger: The Dog in the Manger is a play by Lope de Vega. The dog in the manger, film by Jan Fried, 1977. The dog in the manger film Pilar Miro, 1996 ... Wikipedia

- "THE DOG IN THE SEEN", USSR, Lenfilm, 1977, color, 138 min. Musical costume comedy. Based on the comedy of the same name by Lope de Vega (translated by M. Lozinsky). Cast: Margarita Terekhova (see Terekhova Margarita Borisovna), Mikhail Boyarsky (see BOYARSKY Mikhail ... Encyclopedia of Cinema

DOG IN THE MANGER - who, what to be; do that l. Neither myself nor others. It means that a person, a group of persons or a social collective (X), as well as the state (L), has at its disposal something, but does not use it and does not allow others to use it. Speaks with ... ... Phraseological dictionary of the Russian language

dog in the manger - who. Spread. Prejudice Someone does not use anything himself and does not allow others to use it. About a human. Lieutenant Knyazhko in these matters is clear who? Like a dog in the manger, neither to himself nor to others. Fucked up the head of a woman and not a damn thing. (Yu. Bondarev. Shore). Tomorrow ... ... Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language

1. Spread. Disapproved. About who does not use l. and does not give to others. BMS 1998, 537; Mokienko 1990, 26, 93.2. Zharg. arm. Disapproved. Company Chief. Maksimov, 394. / i\u003e Based on the proverb The dog lies in the manger: it does not eat itself, and does not give to the cattle ... A large dictionary of Russian sayings

dog in the manger - (Like) a dog in the manger who l. About a person who does not use l. and does not give to others ... Dictionary of many expressions

DOG IN THE MANGER - 1977, 2 episodes, 138 min., Color, tv. genre: musical. dir. Jan Fried, sc. Jan Fried (based on the comedy of the same name by Lope de Vega, translated by Mikhail Lozinsky), operas. Evgeny Shapiro, thin Semyon Malkin, comp. Gennady Gladkov, sound engineer Gennady Korkhovoy, lyrics ... ... Lenfilm. Annotated Film Catalog (1918-2003)

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 has become a catch phrase in many languages, goes back, most likely, 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. Dahl. Russian proverbs

This term has other meanings, see Dog in the manger. Dog in the manger Jean ... Wikipedia

Books

• The dog in the manger, Lope de Vega. The name Lope de Vega is on a par with the names of the greatest geniuses of the Renaissance - Dante, Petrarch, Shakespeare, Cervantes. The plays "Valencian Widow" and "Dog in the Manger" included in this book ...