IdiomFood & Drink
French
FrenchCracher dans la soupe
Meaning: To disparage the thing that sustains you.
Literally: To spit in the soup
Example: “Critiquer publiquement le festival qui l'a rendu célèbre, c'est cracher dans la soupe.” — Publicly attacking the festival that made him famous is biting the hand that feeds him.
English equivalent: To bite the hand that feeds you
Equivalents in other languages
Vietnamese: Ăn cháo đá bát Literally: To eat the porridge then kick the bowl
Portuguese: cuspir no prato que comeu Literally: To spit in the plate that one ate from
English: bite the hand that feeds you
Origin: The soup is what is being provided, and fouling it is both ungrateful and self-defeating. It is said of employees and of countries.
More French idioms
- Jeter de la poudre aux yeux To create a dazzling false impression.
- Tenir à quelque chose comme à la prunelle de ses yeux To guard something as one's most precious possession.
- Allumer ses quinquets To open one's eyes and pay attention.
- Couper le sifflet à quelqu'un To silence someone abruptly, usually with an unanswerable point.
- Être dans ses petits souliers To be acutely ill at ease.
- Mordre la poussière To be defeated; to fall.
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