da komšiji crkne krava

Serbo-Croatian

Alternative forms

• da susjedu crkne krava (Croatia)
• nek' komšiji crkne krava

Etymology

Literally "may neighbor's cow die"/"(so) that neighbor's cow dies".

At least as old as 1971

Phrase

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

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

Usage notes

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