beggar-my-neighbor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, journalistic (economics/politics).
Quick answer
What does “beggar-my-neighbor” mean?
An economic or competitive policy designed to benefit oneself at the direct expense of others, causing them to become worse off.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An economic or competitive policy designed to benefit oneself at the direct expense of others, causing them to become worse off.
More broadly, any strategy, game, or behavior in which one participant can only gain by causing another participant to suffer an equal or greater loss. It is often used to describe short-sighted, mutually destructive competition in trade, politics, or personal relationships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The British spelling typically uses 'neighbour' within the phrase. The American spelling is 'beggar-my-neighbor'. The term is more common in British economic/political discourse but is understood in American academic contexts.
Connotations
Universally negative, implying short-sightedness and destructive selfishness.
Frequency
Low frequency in both variants, but slightly higher in UK contexts, especially in historical or analytical discussions of trade wars.
Grammar
How to Use “beggar-my-neighbor” in a Sentence
Used attributively (adj + noun): 'beggar-my-neighbor X'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beggar-my-neighbor” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The chancellor warned against a return to beggar-my-neighbour protectionism in the post-Brexit era.
American English
- Analysts criticized the proposed tariffs as a classic beggar-my-neighbor policy that would provoke retaliation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Criticising competitive devaluations of currency or tariff wars that shrink global trade.
Academic
Analysing historical trade policies, game theory, or international relations.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used metaphorically to describe a selfish, damaging argument within a family or community.
Technical
A specific term in economics and political science describing detrimental trade practices.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “beggar-my-neighbor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “beggar-my-neighbor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beggar-my-neighbor”
- Using it as a standalone noun (e.g., 'He played a beggar-my-neighbor'). It is primarily an attributive adjective. Confusing it with simple 'competition'—it specifically implies harming others to get ahead.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common in international economics, it can be applied metaphorically to any situation where actors gain by imposing losses on others, such as in corporate rivalries or even personal conflicts.
It originates from the name of a simple card game (also called 'Beggar-My-Neighbour') where the goal is to win all of an opponent's cards. This metaphor was applied to economic policies in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Extremely rarely. The standard usage is adjectival ('beggar-my-neighbor policies'). You might see 'to beggar-thy-neighbor' in historical or literary contexts, but it is not standard modern usage.
Yes, when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., beggar-my-neighbor strategy). It may not be hyphenated in all stylistic guides when used in other constructions, but hyphenation is the most common and clearest form.
An economic or competitive policy designed to benefit oneself at the direct expense of others, causing them to become worse off.
Beggar-my-neighbor is usually formal, academic, journalistic (economics/politics). in register.
Beggar-my-neighbor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbeɡ.ə maɪ ˈneɪ.bə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbeɡ.ɚ maɪ ˈneɪ.bɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A race to the bottom (related concept).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a neighbour who, to make his own garden look better, steals your flowers and poisons your soil. He 'beggars' (impoverishes) you, his neighbour, to enrich himself.
Conceptual Metaphor
ECONOMIC RELATIONS ARE A VICIOUS GAME / PROSPERITY IS A LIMITED PIE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the fundamental characteristic of a 'beggar-my-neighbor' approach?