dog-eat-dog
Meaning
Describes a situation where people compete ruthlessly and act selfishly to succeed, often with little regard for others.
Origin
Recorded from the mid-20th century, using a vivid image of animals turning on their own kind to symbolize ruthless competition in business or society.
Notes
Negative tone: implies ruthless, selfish competition and little empathy. Common in business/politics/media; informal to neutral register. Can sound cynical or critical.
Examples
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The startup world can be dog-eat-dog, so you have to move fast and stay sharp.
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After the merger, the office turned dog-eat-dog as teams fought for budgets and influence.
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Real estate in this city is dog-eat-dog, and bidding wars are the norm.
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He learned quickly that politics is a dog-eat-dog business where loyalty shifts overnight.
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When bonuses are on the line, even friendly coworkers can become dog-eat-dog competitors.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used attributively before a noun (βa dog-eat-dog world/industry/marketβ). Often appears as βitβs dog-eat-dog.β Hyphenation is common; not typically inflected.
Synonyms
- cutthroat
- ruthless
- fiercely competitive
- survival of the fittest
Antonyms
- cooperative
- collaborative
- mutually supportive
- win-win