“Bite the hand that feeds one” is a common idiom that is used to describe the act of turning against someone who has helped or supported you in the past. It is a phrase that is often used in situations where someone is ungrateful or unappreciative of the help they have received, and instead, they choose to act in a way that is harmful or unkind to the person who helped them. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and associations of this popular idiom.
Definitions
The phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” is an idiom that means to harm or betray someone who has helped you in the past. It is a metaphorical expression that describes the act of turning against a benefactor or supporter. The phrase implies that the person who is biting the hand that feeds them is ungrateful and disloyal.
Origin
The origin of the phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the 14th century. The phrase was first recorded in English literature in the mid-17th century, in a play by John Heywood called “A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue.”
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” means to turn against a benefactor or supporter. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the phrase as “to repay kindness or generosity with ingratitude or injury.” The Cambridge Dictionary describes the phrase as “to harm someone who has helped you in the past.”
Associations
The phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” is often used in situations where someone is ungrateful or disloyal. It is commonly associated with betrayal, ingratitude, and selfishness. The phrase is often used to describe situations where someone has received help or support from someone else, but instead of being grateful, they choose to act in a way that is harmful or unkind.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for the phrase “bite the hand that feeds one,” including “stab in the back,” “betray,” “turn on,” “double-cross,” and “backstab.”
Antonyms
The antonyms of the phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” include “show gratitude,” “be loyal,” “be thankful,” “be appreciative,” and “be indebted.”
The same root words
The phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” does not have any root words, as it is an idiom. However, the word “bite” is derived from the Old English word “bītan,” which means to bite or to sting.
Example Sentences
Here are a few examples of how the phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” can be used in a sentence:
- After all the help I gave her, she turned around and bit the hand that feeds her.
- I can’t believe he would do something so ungrateful and bite the hand that feeds him.
- She was always complaining about her job, but when they gave her a promotion, she bit the hand that feeds her.
In conclusion, the phrase “bite the hand that feeds one” is a common idiom that is used to describe the act of turning against someone who has helped or supported you in the past. It is a metaphorical expression that describes the act of being ungrateful and disloyal. The phrase has been used in English literature for centuries and is still commonly used today.