Give a dog a bone in his mouth, and you may kick him and he can't bite.
Meaning: A person preoccupied with satisfying their immediate desires loses the ability to resist or retaliate against mistreatment.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Communication
- Every man as his business lies. — Expertise and judgment develop naturally from close involvement with one's own work and r…
- It's a bad cause that none dare speak in. — Silence around a cause signals its moral weakness or indefensibility, not its strength.
- Children and fools speak the truth. — Unguarded honesty emerges from those lacking social filters or awareness of consequences.
- Children should hear, see, and say nothing. — Children benefit from observing and learning quietly before contributing their own opinio…
- They talk of Christmas so long that it comes. — Repeated anticipation and discussion of an event eventually brings its arrival into reali…
- Civil words cost nothing, and go a long way. — Courtesy requires no expense yet yields disproportionate social rewards and influence.
From our compliments & insults
- Peau de vache — A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.
- Eres un aguafiestas — You're a killjoy — you pour cold water on everyone's fun the moment you arrive.
- ¡Qué cara más dura! — You've got incredible nerve and cheek — the audacity is almost impressive.