da komšiji crkne krava

Serbo-Croatian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Literally "may the neighbor's cow die"

At least as old as 1971 [1]

Phrase

da komšiji crkne krava (Cyrillic spelling да комшији цркне крава)

  1. expresses the sentiment that harm to others is satisfying (even more than benefit to oneself)

Usage notes

  • Not used directly, but to describe crab mentality commonly attributed to peoples of former Yugoslavia.

References