Perro hortelano

[poli]

I know if refers to a famous by Lope de Vega, but I'm not sure of it's meaning as an idiom. Example: "Siempre pareció un perro hortelano de las letras yanquis."

[aleCcowaN]

Perro del hortelano: no come, ni deja comer al amo.

Used to upbraid those who don't enjoy nor let others to enjoy; people who make things difficult to them and others; people who don't allow themselves any fruit from what they rule or control; (an endless etcetera)

-Fulano cela mucho a su esposa, pero parece que no la "atiende" en absoluto ...
-¡Es como el perro del hortelano!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

An "hortelano" is someone who cultivates vegetables, and as dogs are not supposed to eat vegetables, they must make good guardians for keeping away rabbits, moles and other animals who do eat them.
"El perro del hortelano" won't eat the vegetables, but won't let anyone else eat them either: "ni come, ni deja comer".

It seems the person about whom the sentence is talking, is someone who won't write, but won't let anyone else write and contribute to American writing environment either.
Personal curiosity: perhaps a harsh critic? :thinking:

[poli]

That's an interesting term. Now I'm trying to think if there is an English
equivalent.:thinking:
Mean and stingy is close though.