飢うえたる犬いぬは棒ぼうを恐おそれず

expression

a starving dog fears no stick

Proverb meaning that someone in desperate circumstances will take risks without fear of consequences. The literal image is of a hungry dog that does not fear being beaten.

• 借しゃっ金きんで首くびが回まわらなくなった彼かれは、飢うえたる犬いぬは棒ぼうを恐おそれずとばかりに危き険けんな投とう資しに手てを出だした。

  Drowning in debt, he made a risky investment as if to say a starving dog fears no stick.