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Region: General | Usage example: The startup scene felt dog eat dog.

Dog eat dog

Meaning

Intensely competitive and ruthless.

Usage

Used for cutthroat environments.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Animal metaphor showing survival-of-the-fittest.

Early 20th-century dystopian commentary.

Related Idioms

Go to the mat

Fight or argue intensely for a cause.

Sweat the details

Focus intensely on small items.

Hotter than Hades

Describes unbearable heat or an intensely heated situation.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.