Bite the hand that feeds you
Meaning
To act with ingratitude or hostility towards someone who provides you with support, sustenance, or assistance.
Origin
The image behind this phrase is primal and visceral: a hungry animal, typically a dog, turning on its owner or benefactor by snapping at the hand that offers it food. This powerful depiction of disloyalty and self-destructive ingratitude has resonated across cultures for centuries. While the sentiment exists in ancient proverbs, the specific English phrasing 'bite the hand that feeds you' gained prominence and became a widely recognized idiom by the 18th century. Literary figures like Alexander Pope notably employed similar constructions in their works, solidifying its place as a stark warning against betraying one's benefactors.
Examples
- After all the sacrifices his parents made, moving out and immediately cutting off all communication was truly biting the hand that feeds you.
- The employees felt that leaking confidential company data to a competitor was biting the hand that feeds them, risking everyone's jobs.