crabs in a bucket
other.— «There are other people who are uncomfortable with other people around them succeeding. I was told by one of my business mentors that this is sometimes called the “crabs in a bucket” concept-when crabs are captured, they’re placed in a wide-open bucket because the ones on the bottom don’t let the ones on top escape.» —“How to Deal With Negative Influences as an Entrepreneur” by Patricia G. in Knoxville, Tennessee Gather May 4, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Is there something inherent in English that makes it the linguistic equivalent of the Borg, dominating and consuming other languages in its path? No, not at all. The answer lies with politics and conquest rather than language itself. Plus: a new...
The autocomplete function on your phone comes in handy, of course. But is it changing the way we write and how linguists study language? Also, suppose you could invite any two authors, living or dead, to dinner. Who’s on your guest list and...