dog eat dog

English

Alternative forms

• dog-eat-dog

Etymology

From dog + eat + dog.

Adjective

dog eat dog (comparative more dog eat dog, superlative most dog eat dog)

1. Ruthless competition. Describes a business or other set of circumstances where people have to act with no consideration for other people if they are to succeed.

   In this company it's dog eat dog. If you don't do better than the rest, you're on the street in next to no time.

   • 2007: Zoe Wood, Guardian Unlimited, Nov 11, Tesco has a flutter in Vegas.,

     It is dog eat dog on Las Vegas's world-famous Strip as casino complexes such as MGM Grand and New York New York compete for attention with outlandish gestures like rollercoaster rides and a replica of the Manhattan skyline.

Synonyms

• every man for himself