Dog in the manger is a phrase that is used to describe a person who spitefully prevents others from using or enjoying something that they themselves have no use for. Synonyms for the phrase include selfish, possessive, greedy, inconsiderate, and jealous. The phrase is derived from the fable of Aesop, in which a dog that cannot eat hay lies in a manger to prevent the cattle from eating it. Other phrases that convey a similar meaning include "to be covetous of what you don't possess" and "to take pleasure in preventing others from doing what you can't do." It is often used to describe individuals or groups who exhibit selfish behavior at the expense of others.