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don't bite the hand that feeds you

简体
don't bite the hand that feeds you
不要忘恩负义

Date: Dec 15 2011

Themes: Pets

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“I don’t mind doing a lot of romantic comedies. I’m not going to bite the hand that feeds me.”

- Actress Lake Bell on always getting offered similar roles. (Us Weekly)

“我不介意演很多浪漫喜剧。我不会做忘恩负义的事情。”
- 女演员蕾克·贝尔 (Lake Bell) 在回答总是得到一些类似角色的问题时如是说。

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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don’t turn against someone or something that has helped you

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Dogs are smart. Sometimes, they’re even smarter than people. Dogs know that they shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds them. But people sometimes forget that rule. That’s why we need an idiom in order to help us remember it.

When a dog bites the hand that feeds it, it turns against its owner. That’s a bad idea, because chances are, a dog that bites the hand that feeds it won’t get fed again. When you tell a person don’t bite the hand that feeds you, it means that they shouldn’t turn against someone or something that’s helped them in some way. If they do, they might not get helped again in the future.

The actress Lake Bell has been given a lot of parts in romantic comedies. Some actors worry about only being offered one kind of part. They want to do many different types of films and play many different types of characters so they don’t get stuck always playing the same role. But Lake Bell is grateful for the work she’s been given. She doesn’t want to bite the hand that feeds her by complaining about the types of movies she is asked to do.

Have you ever bitten the hand that feeds you? What other lessons can we learn from dogs?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“I know you’re upset with your parents, but don’t bite the hand that feeds you. They’ve done a lot for you over the years.”

“I’m thinking about quitting my job, but my boss has been so nice to me, and I don’t want to bite the hand that feeds me.”

“We don’t want to bite the hand that feeds us, but at the same time, it’s important to express our unhappiness with our leaders. “

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

It means to turn against something or not appreciate it.
by candycandice
Manu4 To fight against someone or reject someone who helps you.
by Manu4
Ahshan to hurt someone who help me ,to do something shamefully to the one who give me a hand.
by Ahshan
englishty It means being ungrateful to something good happened to him before
by englishty
treat someone badly who has helped you
by orange.juice
ungreatfulness, rejecting something helping you
by friendlover
cubi1604 Turn your back on something that benefits you a great deal. Be ungrateful for something.
by cubi1604
dearpesar not be thanksful for favor they've done for you
by dearpesar

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Comments

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فهد العنزي

Saudi Arabia

Please I want aske how I sent my photo

10:51 PM Dec 20 2011 |

فهد العنزي

Saudi Arabia

I have never bitten the have feeds me

10:47 PM Dec 20 2011 |

rezvaneh.azizi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Sometimes who feeds me , bing in forse to bite my hand in other time.

01:09 PM Dec 20 2011 |

badr gindeel

Sudan

if any one help me at any thing i cant forget him but ican help him at any times and thank him at all

02:25 PM Dec 17 2011 |

badr gindeel

Sudan

i cant speek english so much but i can said thank you for all lesson so that i love all your pogrames so much

02:18 PM Dec 17 2011 |

Sami Aswad

Sami Aswad

Iraq

I’ve been there , I helped many of those who supposed to be my friends in their hardshape ,afterward all I got was bad behavior ,dnt know how can they do that ???

09:02 PM Dec 15 2011 |

wwongsapun

wwongsapun

Thailand

Oh No, I never have bitten the hand that feeds me. I have been taught to know about grateful to who that help me. It’s a good things should to keep in life.

07:52 PM Dec 15 2011 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

 @ John – Especially when you don’t know what they’ve been fondling…heehee

07:34 PM Dec 15 2011 |

john

johnSuper Member!

United States

don’t bite any hands, it could taste nasty.

07:24 PM Dec 15 2011 |

zazi zineb

Algeria

don’t betray your friend and your country, teachers and your family , simply evry one belong to your life ,you should be greatful and appreciate the offert, the help of your surounding and never forget and keep it forever

06:51 PM Dec 15 2011 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Errr… Prof Maher , do you want to revise your comment? hee hee!

06:34 PM Dec 15 2011 |

1 person likes this

prof.maher

prof.maher

Saudi Arabia

it is extraordinary sentence. i love it .


and this is true WE MUST harm someone who help us .

06:28 PM Dec 15 2011 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Cr!stal you need to watch a whole movie, I swear she’s better than most puppets I see on TV nowadays. heehee!

04:07 PM Dec 15 2011 |

1 person likes this

mohammed9977

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

great job


 

04:04 PM Dec 15 2011 |

javier_man

javier_man

Mexico

Do not be ungrateful with someone whom help you

03:55 PM Dec 15 2011 |

snoopyboy

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Yeah Lake Bell I totally agree with you-if it’s not broken don’t fix it. She’s clearly not one of those prima donna actors who fuss about the roles they are given. She understands she doesn’t have this kind of privilege yet. It’s just a matter of time before she tops the A-list; good things come to those who wait. But all in all, she’s been very excellent as an actress; I think comedy roles suit her. Plus, who doesn’t like a hot girl who can  take and make you laugh?


About the idiom per se, well a lot of unappreciative hypocrites out there like to bite the hands that feed them. I’m not the type of person who begs for gratitude, I don’t need someone licking my boots [paraphrasing Butta] however if you act as if I owed you something all the time; well… you can kiss me and all I can provide goodbye.

01:45 PM Dec 15 2011 |

1 person likes this

catre8

catre8

Algeria

kiss the hand that feeds you

01:30 PM Dec 15 2011 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

The faithfulness and devotion are the features we must learn from dogs.


I think dogs are the most wonderful animals that could ever be on the Earth. Worship to the dogs!


By the way, the movies as “Hachiko” and “ White Bim, black ear” (it is the Russian movie) proves my words above.


 

10:39 AM Dec 15 2011 |

Hameedkhan

Hameedkhan

Yemen

it’s can change you….. thenk you sir

08:49 AM Dec 15 2011 |

sibby724

sibby724

Taiwan

don’t bite the hand that feeds you, bite the hand that try to push you. _

08:46 AM Dec 15 2011 |

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