dog-eat-dog: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Mainly journalistic, business, and everyday informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “dog-eat-dog” mean?
Describes a ruthlessly competitive situation where people are willing to harm others to succeed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Describes a ruthlessly competitive situation where people are willing to harm others to succeed.
Characterizes any environment, system, or culture marked by intense, merciless, and often unethical competition, where self-interest overrides cooperation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or application. Spelling typically retains hyphens in both.
Connotations
Identical; both strongly negative, suggesting a harsh, unpleasant environment.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, perhaps slightly more common in US business/political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “dog-eat-dog” in a Sentence
It's a dog-eat-dog (world).The (industry) is dog-eat-dog.A dog-eat-dog (atmosphere) prevails.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dog-eat-dog” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The music industry can be a real dog-eat-dog business.
- They were tired of the dog-eat-dog office politics.
American English
- It's a dog-eat-dog world out there in sales.
- He thrived in that dog-eat-dog corporate culture.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes markets or corporate cultures with fierce, unethical competition.
Academic
Used in sociological or economic discussions of competition.
Everyday
Describes competitive situations in work, school, or social settings.
Technical
Not typically used in formal technical registers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dog-eat-dog”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dog-eat-dog”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dog-eat-dog”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They dog-eat-dog' is incorrect).
- Spelling without hyphens (dog eat dog) is common but less standard in formal writing.
- Using it for healthy competition; it implies an unethical or cruel edge.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not directly. It describes environments, situations, or mentalities (e.g., a dog-eat-dog world, a dog-eat-dog attitude). You wouldn't say "He is dog-eat-dog."
It is neutral to informal. It's common in journalism and spoken language but may be replaced by more formal terms like 'ruthlessly competitive' in very formal academic or legal writing.
It originates from the Latin proverb 'canis caninam non est' (a dog does not eat a dog), meaning even animals have limits. The English phrase inverts this to describe a situation where such limits are absent.
No, 'dog-eat-doggery' is very rare and non-standard. The standard usage is as an attributive adjective (e.g., dog-eat-dog competition).
Describes a ruthlessly competitive situation where people are willing to harm others to succeed.
Dog-eat-dog: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɒɡ iːt ˈdɒɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɑːɡ iːt ˈdɑːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a dog-eat-dog world.”
- “In a dog-eat-dog situation, only the strong survive.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two dogs fighting over one bone, each trying to eat the other to get it. This visual captures the ruthless, self-interested struggle.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN SOCIETY IS A JUNGLE / COMPETITION IS CANNIBALISM (people "devouring" each other to succeed).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'dog-eat-dog' typically imply about a situation?