чужими руками жар загребать

• ЧУЖИМИ РУКАМИ ЖАР ЗАГРЕБАТЬ coll, disapprov

[VP; subj: human; usu. infin used with a finite form of привыкнуть, хотеть, любить etc]

=====

⇒ 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)