bite the hand that feeds (you)
bite the hand that feeds (you)
To scorn or poorly treat those on whom you depend or derive benefit. You might not agree with your parents' rules, but be careful about biting the hand that feeds you, because you owe everything you have to them. In politics, if you bite the hand that feeds, benefactors can very quickly crush your political future.
See also: bite, feed, hand, that
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
bite the hand that feeds one
Fig. to do harm to someone who does good things for you. (Does not involve biting.) I'm your mother! How can you bite the hand that feeds you? She can hardly expect sympathy when she bites the hand that feeds her.
See also: bite, feed, hand, one, that
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
bite the hand that feeds you
Show ingratitude, turn against a benefactor. For example, The college gave me a scholarship, so I shouldn't bite the hand that feeds me and criticize its hiring policies . Used about 600 b.c. by the Greek poet Sappho, this metaphor of a dog biting its master was first recorded in English in 1711.
See also: bite, feed, hand, that
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
bite the hand that feeds you
COMMON If someone bites the hand that feeds them, they behave badly towards a person who has helped them or given them money. She is sometimes critical of the film industry, but ultimately she has no intention of biting the hand that feeds her. They pay him eighty thousand pounds a week and there he is, criticizing the manager. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
See also: bite, feed, hand, that
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
bite the hand that feeds you
deliberately hurt or offend a benefactor; act ungratefully. 1994 Warren Farrell The Myth of Male Power When this is combined with the fact that women watch more TV in every time slot, shows can't afford to bite the hand that feeds them.
See also: bite, feed, hand, that
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
bite the hand that ˈfeeds you
be unkind or disloyal to somebody who has been kind or helpful to you, or who pays your wages: When you say such nasty things about the organization, you’re biting the hand that feeds you.See also: bite, feed, hand, that
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
bite the hand that feeds (one)
To repay generosity or kindness with ingratitude and injury.
See also: bite, feed, hand, that
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- bite the hand that feeds
- bite the hand that feeds one
- bite the hand that feeds you
- don't bite the hand that feeds (you)
- you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar
- muscle in on (someone or something)
- the back of (one's) hand
- back of one's hand
- laugh (someone or something) to scorn
- laugh someone or something to scorn