What does “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” mean?

"Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself" means don’t ask someone to do something for you that you can do yourself. Don’t waste your resources or talents by duplicating efforts.

What context can I use the in?

Example

Why are you asking me to clean your room when you can do it yourself? Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.

Example

You shouldn't rely on others to solve your problems. Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. Use your own skills and resources.

Example

Instead of hiring someone to fix your car, why don't you learn how to do it yourself? *Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.

Is “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?

“Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.

How would I use “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” effectively in context?

You can use "Don't keep a dog and bark yourself" to emphasize the importance of delegating tasks and not unnecessarily taking on responsibilities that others can handle. For example, if a friend is trying to do all the household chores despite having family members who can help, you might say, 'Don't keep a dog and bark yourself. Let them contribute too.'

1Household Chores
Your children are capable of doing their own laundry. Don't keep a dog and bark yourself. Let them take responsibility.
2Work
You have a team of colleagues who can assist with the project. Don't keep a dog and bark yourself. Delegate tasks and trust their abilities.
3Personal Life
You hired a personal trainer to guide your fitness journey. Don't keep a dog and bark yourself. Follow their instructions and let them lead.

Similar phrases to “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.”:

Let someone else do the heavy lifting

Allow someone else to take on the difficult or laborious tasks

Example

You've been doing all the work. It's time to let someone else do the heavy lifting.

Share the load

Distribute the responsibilities among others instead of shouldering them all yourself

Example

You don't have to do everything alone. Share the load with your team.

Pass the baton

Transfer the responsibility or task to someone else

Example

You've done your part. It's time to pass the baton to someone else.

Good things to know:

Where does the phrase “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” come from?

The origin of the phrase "Don't keep a dog and bark yourself" is unknown.

Is “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” common in everyday conversation?

"Don't keep a dog and bark yourself" is not a very common phrase in everyday conversation. It may be more commonly used in certain cultures or regions.

What tone does “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” have?

"Don't keep a dog and bark yourself" conveys a tone of advice and wisdom. It suggests that it is unnecessary and inefficient to take on tasks that others are capable of handling.

Can “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.” be used in informal and formal settings?

"Don't keep a dog and bark yourself" is a relatively informal phrase. It is more likely to be used in casual conversations rather than formal settings.

Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?

"Don't keep a dog and bark yourself" is typically used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'You have a team of professionals, so don't keep a dog and bark yourself. Let them do their job.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Remember, don't keep a dog and bark yourself!' to remind someone not to unnecessarily take on tasks.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

do it yourself
take on all the responsibility
handle everything
shoulder the burden
keep all the tasks