Definition
Describes a person who selfishly prevents others from using something they do not need or want themselves.
He never reads those books but, like a dog in the manger, won't let anyone else touch them.
She never uses that old office, but she won't let anyone else use it either, just like a dog in the manger.
He doesn't use this software, but he's preventing our company from buying it; he's really acting like a dog in the manger.