English Explanatory Dictionary

kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To seek short-term gain at the sacrifice of long-term profit.

Pronunciation

En-au-kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.ogg

Word forms

kill the goose that lays the golden eggs kills the goose that lays the golden eggs killing the goose that lays the golden eggs killed the goose that laid the golden eggs

Etymology

From the Aesop's fable The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs, in which a married couple own a goose that lays one golden egg every day. Because of greed, they decide to kill the goose to obtain all the gold they suppose to be present in its body. Once opened, the goose proves to be like any normal goose inside.

Synonyms

take the short view

Related words

golden goose
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