dog in the manger
1
someone who selfishly prevents others from using or enjoying something that they themselves have no use for
The idiom "dog in the manger" originates from an ancient Greek fable attributed to the storyteller Aesop. This phrase is used to describe someone who selfishly prevents others from using or enjoying something that they have no intention of using or benefiting from themselves.
- The new employee doesn't like the project but won't let anyone else take over.He's acting like a dog in the manger.
- They're not using the office space, but they won't let us move there either.It's like they're being a dog in the manger.
- When I asked to borrow his camera, he acted like a dog in the manger, refusing to lend it to me or anyone else.