ProverbCommunicationEnglish origin

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.

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  • 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.

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