# crab mentality

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/crab-mentality
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A phenomenon in which a person or a group of people attempt to hinder the progress or success of others, even if such success does not directly affect their own well-being.

## Examples

- Don't show crab mentality by trying to stop your friend from succeeding.
- Crab mentality keeps the whole group from moving forward.
- The team failed to reach their goal because of the crab mentality among members who sabotaged each other's work.
- He decided to leave his hometown because the crab mentality of his neighbors made it impossible to start a new business without facing constant criticism.
- When you try to improve your lifestyle, be careful of friends who show crab mentality by mocking your healthy choices just to make themselves feel better.
- Instead of celebrating her promotion, her colleagues displayed a clear crab mentality, actively undermining her efforts to improve the department's performance.

## Origin

Derived from the metaphor of a pot of crabs, in which a single crab attempting to escape over the side is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot. The image serves as an illustration of a collective resistance to individual success.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.