dɔɡ iːt dɔɡ
- Literally:
- Dogs eating other dogs
What does "dog eat dog" mean?
- A ruthlessly competitive environment
- A situation where people will do anything to succeed, even harm others
Examples
- It's a dog-eat-dog world in the entertainment industry.
- The business environment there is dog eat dog.
- In this dog-eat-dog competition, only the strongest survive.
Origin
The Latin proverb 'canis caninam non est' (dog does not eat dog) expressed an unnatural behavior. The English idiom reverses this, saying the situation is so competitive that even this unnatural behavior occurs.
How to use it
Describes harsh, competitive environments. Often used with 'world' or as an adjective (dog-eat-dog world). Carries negative connotation.
Similar expressions
Opposites
Related idioms
- kill two birds with one stone
To accomplish two goals with a single action
- let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret accidentally
- elephant in the room
An obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss
- don't count your chickens before they hatch
Don't assume success before it actually happens
- hold your horses
To wait and be patient
- fish out of water
Someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in a particular situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "dog eat dog" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.