Dog eat dog
Meaning
A situation characterized by ruthless competition where people are willing to harm each other to succeed.
Origin
The brutal imagery of "dog eat dog" harks back to ancient Roman thought, encapsulating a world without mercy. Long before the English idiom took hold, the Roman philosopher Seneca famously wrote "Canis canem edit" ("dog eats dog") in his Epistles, a bleak observation on society's cutthroat nature. This stark Latin proverb echoed the even older "Lupus est homo homini" ("man is a wolf to man") by Plautus, highlighting humanity's innate capacity for ruthless self-interest. As the centuries turned, this stark ancient wisdom morphed into the familiar English phrase, capturing the essence of merciless competition that still defines certain aspects of human struggle.
Examples
- In the cutthroat world of corporate finance, it's often dog eat dog, with colleagues backstabbing each other for promotions.
- Surviving in the overcrowded music industry requires a dog eat dog mentality, as opportunities are scarce and competition is fierce.