Ingratitude is an unfortunate human trait where individuals fail to acknowledge the kindness shown to them. Expressions related to ingratitude often carry a tone of disappointment and moral disapproval. This post explores 20 expressions and idioms that vividly describe scenarios of ingratitude, each accompanied by a concise definition and a simple example. These expressions serve as a reminder of the value of appreciation and the sting of its absence.
Expressions Related to Ingratitude
1. Bite the hand that feeds you
Meaning: To harm someone who has helped you.
Example: Criticizing your mentor is like biting the hand that feeds you.
2. Take for granted
Meaning: Fail to appreciate something consistently provided.
Example: He took his parents’ support for granted.
3. Look a gift horse in the mouth
Meaning: Critique something that was given freely.
Example: Complaining about the car’s color is looking a gift horse in the mouth.
4. Spit in the face of
Meaning: Show contempt or ingratitude to someone.
Example: Ignoring her advice was like spitting in her face.
5. Turn one’s back on
Meaning: Abandon or betray someone who helped you.
Example: After gaining fame, he turned his back on his old friends.
6. Throw back in one’s face
Meaning: Reject help or kindness rudely.
Example: She threw his apology back in his face.
7. Pay with ingratitude
Meaning: Respond to kindness with unkindness.
Example: After all the help he received, he paid with ingratitude.
8. Not know which side one’s bread is buttered on
Meaning: Fail to recognize where advantages come from.
Example: He criticized his boss publicly, clearly not knowing which side his bread is buttered on.
9. Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning: To ignore someone deliberately.
Example: After the promotion, he gave his colleagues the cold shoulder.
10. Not give someone the time of day
Meaning: Ignore or refuse to acknowledge someone.
Example: He’s so ungrateful that he wouldn’t give her the time of day.
11. Slap in the face
Meaning: An action that shows lack of respect or gratitude.
Example: Not inviting her to the meeting was a slap in the face.
12. Kick the ladder away
Meaning: Remove support from someone who helped you climb up.
Example: Once he was successful, he kicked the ladder away.
13. Forget one’s roots
Meaning: Ignore where one came from or what got them there.
Example: Becoming a celebrity, he forgot his roots.
14. Neglect to mention
Meaning: Deliberately not acknowledge someone’s effort.
Example: He neglected to mention his teacher in his success speech.
15. Not lift a finger to help
Meaning: Do nothing to assist someone in return.
Example: Even after all the favors, he wouldn’t lift a finger to help her.
16. Show one’s true colors
Meaning: Reveal one’s ungrateful or negative nature.
Example: He showed his true colors when he complained about the gift.
17. Burn one’s bridges
Meaning: Destroy one’s relationships through poor behavior.
Example: By lying to his friends, he burned his bridges.
18. Take advantage of
Meaning: Exploit someone’s kindness without showing gratitude.
Example: She took advantage of his generosity without a thank you.
19. Not bat an eye
Meaning: Show no emotional gratitude or reaction.
Example: He didn’t bat an eye when she handed him the award.
20. Cast aside
Meaning: Dismiss or reject someone after they’ve been useful.
Example: After the project, he cast his team aside.
