# Poll: Dog in the manger **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765 "2008-01-08T20:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/41 "2008-01-09T00:07:46Z")
44, yes, have seen _The Maltese Falcon_, have read Aesop, have read _The Maltese Falcon_. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/42 "2008-01-09T00:12:16Z")
Fifty. Know it well. Used it last week. Had to explane it. He is Twenty-three. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/43 "2008-01-09T00:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=Kayeby] My primary school teachers were big on Aesop. [/QUOTE] I remember reading them in primary school. Then again - in Latin - in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/44 "2008-01-09T00:49:40Z")
I’m 27. I learned this phrase in a _vocabulary lesson_ in high school that included phrases like “Hobson’s choice”, which I didn’t know, and things I (and I expect most people) did like “fifth column”. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/45 "2008-01-09T01:28:08Z")
I’m 39, and I don’t remember it from the fables. I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I remember asking what it meant when I was a teenager, after seeing it used in “Mistral’s Daughter.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/46 "2008-01-09T01:40:37Z")
Know it because I grew up with Aesop’s fables, though I refer to it as ‘the dog and the hay.’ I hate that damn dog, and I’ve met many like him. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/47 "2008-01-09T01:46:48Z")
I had a book of Aesop’s Fables, but no, I don’t know it. Your age. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/48 "2008-01-09T02:27:06Z")
**Twicks** , now I’m really curious about the situation/person you were describing with the phrase “a dog in a manger.” ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/49 "2008-01-09T02:38:04Z")
1. I know what it means and I’ve seen **The Maltese Falcon**. My 28-year-old co-worker has seen the movie, but did not now the fable. ETA: he said that when he was in school, they learned Anansi fables (which I had never heard of) rather Aesop’s. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/50 "2008-01-09T02:48:13Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree] **Twicks** , now I’m really curious about the situation/person you were describing with the phrase “a dog in a manger.” [/QUOTE] The art director needed some particular photos. The person who had taken those photos had them on his computer. I walked past as they were discussing why the photos were on the second person’s computer and not the server, and (jokingly) accused that person of being a dog in the manger with them. They both stopped and stared at me in utter incomprehension. Honestly, I’m astonished that this is coming across as an obscure referenece. Should I assume that not everyone who can correctly use the phrase “sour grapes” would be able to tell the fable whence it came? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/51 "2008-01-09T03:11:15Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Honestly, I’m astonished that this is coming across as an obscure referenece. Should I assume that not everyone who can correctly use the phrase “sour grapes” would be able to tell the fable whence it came? [/QUOTE] I know the phrase, but I did not realize it was from Aesop’s until I just looked it up. I am much better versed in mythology & faerie tales then fables. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/52 "2008-01-09T04:24:46Z")
I’m 30, have seen **The Maltese Falcon** , and read Aesop’s Fables as a kid. I also know the term “sour grapes” and the fable whence it comes. I have no idea what a dog in the manger is. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/53 "2008-01-09T08:29:51Z")
30, and though I’ve heard it once or twice looking it up right now confirms that it doesn’t fit my vague guess as to what it means. Wrong manger, so out of place/in the wrong place isn’t it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen The Maltese Falcon, but I am familiar with the sour grapes fable. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/54 "2008-01-09T11:15:48Z")
47, known it well since before turning 11. Someone who spitefully refuses to hand over something that is no use to them to someone who urgently needs it. Bless the _Children’s Encyclopædia_. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/55 "2008-01-09T11:54:40Z")
I only know a couple of Aesop’s Fables, and it doesn’t include this one, but I don’t think fables and fairy tales and parables have ever taught me anything anyway. I tend to only tune into their story aspect, and not any morals they’re teaching. I am 38. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/56 "2008-01-09T12:14:06Z")
I am 46 and was fond of the fables growing up. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/57 "2008-01-09T12:53:06Z")
Know it, 22. I barely heard of The Maltese Falcon, however, but then I don’t watch many films. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/58 "2008-01-09T16:54:32Z")
I am (seriously!) concerned that two of the three underlings who had never heard the expression are parents of small children, so I stopped at two different bookstores on the way home.[This](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416902902/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) is the one I’m getting for said small children. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/59 "2008-01-09T17:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] I am (seriously!) concerned that two of the three underlings who had never heard the expression are parents of small children, so I stopped at two different bookstores on the way home.[This](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416902902/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) is the one I’m getting for said small children. [/QUOTE] I just added [this book](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1853261289/ref=reg_hu-wl_item-added) of Aesop’s Fable to my Amazon wish list, it is one I would like. 🙂 (Leaving out the editions that are complete, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765/60 "2008-01-09T17:13:25Z")
For me, I think I’d also like that one, which I looked at yesterday – and which is _gorgeous._ For kids, though, I liked the tone of the text of the one I picked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-dog-in-the-manger/432765.md?page=4)