• ЧУЖИМИ РУКАМИ ЖАР ЗАГРЕБАТЬ coll, disapprov
[VP; subj: human; usu. infin used with a finite form of привыкнуть, хотеть, любить etc]
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⇒ to use the product of another's labor to one's own advantage:
- X привык чужими руками жар загребать{{}}≈ X is accustomed to reaping the fruit of someone else's labor;
- X is accustomed to reaping where he hasn't sown;
- X is accustomed to making <letting etc> others do all the dirty work (for him);
- X is accustomed to using others as a cat's paw.
♦ "...При царе... вашими руками на войне жар загребали. Загребают и при Керенском..." (Шолохов 3). [context transl] "Under the tsar they...used you to grab the spoils of war. They're still grabbing under Kerensky..." (3a)
Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. С.И. Лубенская. 2004.