Proverb / Kotowaza
犬骨折って鷹にとられる
Someone else takes the credit or reward for your hard work.
A dog breaks its bones working, but a hawk takes the prey.
Quick Answer
Someone else takes the credit or reward for your hard work.
- Literal Image
- A dog breaks its bones working, but a hawk takes the prey.
- Closest Equivalent
- The dog labored, but the hawk got the prize.
- How to Use It
- Used to describe scenarios where a superior or a bystander takes credit for an achievement made by someone else through long-term effort.
Meaning
This expression describes the frustration of putting in significant effort only to have the results snatched away by another person. It implies a situation where one person does the difficult preparation and labor, while a third party swoops in at the final moment to claim the prize.
Literal Image
A dog breaks its bones working, but a hawk takes the prey.
Equivalent Proverbs
The dog labored, but the hawk got the prize.
Matches the source-provided English equivalent.
How to Use It
Used to describe scenarios where a superior or a bystander takes credit for an achievement made by someone else through long-term effort.
Tone
This expression carries a resentful or critical tone regarding unfairness and unrewarded labor.
Examples
長年研究してきた成果を、あとから来た上司に横取りされた。犬骨折って鷹にとられるとはこのことだ。
My research results from years of work were snatched by a boss who arrived later. It is exactly like the dog laboring while the hawk takes the prize.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the te-form 'otte' (from hone wo oru) and the passive 'torareru', combined with specific hunting vocabulary.
犬
いぬ / inu
dog
骨折って
ほねおって / honeotte
making great effort; laboring (lit. breaking bones)
鷹
たか / taka
hawk
取られる
とられる / torareru
to be taken
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a strong expression of dissatisfaction; use it when emphasizing the unfairness of credit being stolen.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to simply mean 'I am tired'; it specifically requires a third party taking the results of your work.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This proverb stems from falconry (hawk hunting). In these hunts, dogs are used to flush out and drive the prey toward the hunters, but it is ultimately the hawk that strikes and captures the prize. This represents the lack of reward for the dog's hard work and the unreasonable snatching of success by the hawk.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.