"Dog eat dog" is analogous to the idiom "every man for himself", which implies a situation in which fierce deadly competition is necessary for your survival.
Some of these recent definitions seem to be offended at this saying due to their ignorance of the origin behind this 500 year old idiom. Some people do not seem to realize that this idiom is NOT meant to be taken literally. So, why is it called "dog eat dog" you may ask? Well, the idiom is actually a play on the much older latin idiom "dog does NOT eat dog" (canis caninam non est), which originated as early as 43 BC and first spoken by Roman scholar Marcus Tarentius Varro.
"Dog does not eat dog" is a proverbial saying indicating that even animals are better than humans in that they don’t prey on their own kind. The phrase entered into English discourse in 1543. Eventually, the phrase got flipped and applied to humans and henceforth "dog eat dog" was born. Both idioms generally imply the same thing (that humans are capable of being merciless).
So to summarize, the idiom "dog-eat-dog" is derived from its parent idiom "dog-does-not-eat-dog". The latter idiom makes sense in and of itself, while the former idiom ONLY makes sense in relation to its latter.
Some of these recent definitions seem to be offended at this saying due to their ignorance of the origin behind this 500 year old idiom. Some people do not seem to realize that this idiom is NOT meant to be taken literally. So, why is it called "dog eat dog" you may ask? Well, the idiom is actually a play on the much older latin idiom "dog does NOT eat dog" (canis caninam non est), which originated as early as 43 BC and first spoken by Roman scholar Marcus Tarentius Varro.
"Dog does not eat dog" is a proverbial saying indicating that even animals are better than humans in that they don’t prey on their own kind. The phrase entered into English discourse in 1543. Eventually, the phrase got flipped and applied to humans and henceforth "dog eat dog" was born. Both idioms generally imply the same thing (that humans are capable of being merciless).
So to summarize, the idiom "dog-eat-dog" is derived from its parent idiom "dog-does-not-eat-dog". The latter idiom makes sense in and of itself, while the former idiom ONLY makes sense in relation to its latter.
Me: It's a dog eat dog world out there.
Some kid: No it's not. It never was a dog eat dog world. Humans eat humans, but dogs don't eat dogs.
Me: My guy, you are so heavily misinformed. Dog eat dog isn't referring to dogs, it's referring to humans.
Some kid: So why don't they just name it "human eat human" instead?
Me: Because context my guy, it's all about context. You see... "dog eat dog" actually belongs to the much older idiom "dog does not eat dog", indicating that dogs never prey on their own kind. It took around 700 years for this idiom to become flipped and applied to humans.
Me: Also since you took it literally, I'll have you know that from an evolutionary standpoint, dogs will eat other dogs if this is what ensures their survival.
Some kid: No it's not. It never was a dog eat dog world. Humans eat humans, but dogs don't eat dogs.
Me: My guy, you are so heavily misinformed. Dog eat dog isn't referring to dogs, it's referring to humans.
Some kid: So why don't they just name it "human eat human" instead?
Me: Because context my guy, it's all about context. You see... "dog eat dog" actually belongs to the much older idiom "dog does not eat dog", indicating that dogs never prey on their own kind. It took around 700 years for this idiom to become flipped and applied to humans.
Me: Also since you took it literally, I'll have you know that from an evolutionary standpoint, dogs will eat other dogs if this is what ensures their survival.
by Mary Mary Quite The Contrarian August 13, 2021
Get the Dog eat dogmug. by someguy May 13, 2005
Get the dogmug. by Boonie. December 25, 2020
Get the Dogmug. iam in mood for dogging
yeah well iam in the mood for you to shut the fuck up
suck my knob
with ''PLEASURE'' if you know what i mean
yeah well iam in the mood for you to shut the fuck up
suck my knob
with ''PLEASURE'' if you know what i mean
by Jackroll April 22, 2006
Get the doggingmug. Verb. to dog
The Act of unemotional, no strings attached sexual activity. The frat boy dream.
(/i)doggin, dogged, a dog
The Act of unemotional, no strings attached sexual activity. The frat boy dream.
(/i)doggin, dogged, a dog
Kobe Bryant dogged in Vail.
The little slut at the bar was dogged by the entire football team.
She is a dog. One who everyone knows they can "dog".
The little slut at the bar was dogged by the entire football team.
She is a dog. One who everyone knows they can "dog".
by The DogMan November 6, 2007
Get the doggedmug. This dog is nice.
by TheKingOfCats27 December 7, 2019
Get the Dogmug. 