bear's service

The meaning of "bear's service" originally comes from a fable about a man and a bear. The bear wanted to help the man by killing a gnat which sat on his forehead. As a result both the gnat and the man died.

This idiom is known primarily in Slavic languages.

"Mike was trying to help with washing up but he dropped my favourite cup on the floor in the process."
"That's called a bear's service."

bear's service by Random fag April 16, 2013