简体

don't bite the hand that feeds you
不要忘恩负义

Quote

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Definition

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don’t turn against someone or something that has helped you

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Dogs are smart. Sometimes, they’re even smarter than people. Dogs know that they shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds them. But people sometimes forget that rule. That’s why we need an idiom in order to help us remember it.

When a dog bites the hand that feeds it, it turns against its owner. That’s a bad idea, because chances are, a dog that bites the hand that feeds it won’t get fed again. When you tell a person don’t bite the hand that feeds you, it means that they shouldn’t turn against someone or something that’s helped them in some way. If they do, they might not get helped again in the future.

The actress Lake Bell has been given a lot of parts in romantic comedies. Some actors worry about only being offered one kind of part. They want to do many different types of films and play many different types of characters so they don’t get stuck always playing the same role. But Lake Bell is grateful for the work she’s been given. She doesn’t want to bite the hand that feeds her by complaining about the types of movies she is asked to do.

Have you ever bitten the hand that feeds you? What other lessons can we learn from dogs?

Examples

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“I know you’re upset with your parents, but don’t bite the hand that feeds you. They’ve done a lot for you over the years.”

“I’m thinking about quitting my job, but my boss has been so nice to me, and I don’t want to bite the hand that feeds me.”

“We don’t want to bite the hand that feeds us, but at the same time, it’s important to express our unhappiness with our leaders. “