dog eat dog
"Survival of the fittest" in its most literal definition. Everyone fends for themselves. If you can't take care of yourself, you get eliminated.
dog eat dog by MAP July 15, 2005
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.
Dog eat dog
"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.
Dog eat dog by Mary Mary Quite The Contrarian August 13, 2021
Dog eat dog
Dogs don't usually eat other dogs. They eat other things when they're not eating dog food, but not dogs. A dog might eat a hot dog.
Guy- It's a dog eat dog world my friend.
Guy's friend- No it's not. It never was a dog eat dog world. Humans eat humans, but dogs don't eat dogs.
Guy's friend- No it's not. It never was a dog eat dog world. Humans eat humans, but dogs don't eat dogs.
Dog eat dog by Solid Mantis September 2, 2019
dog eat dog
dog eat dog by "Dingleberry-huntin Dean" Bobbit June 29, 2004
Dog eat dog
Dogs dont eat dogs, they eat dogfood or leftovers. A wolf might eat a dog if it hasn't had a decent meal in a while.
Dog eat dog by The Original Agahnim June 3, 2021
Dog eat dog
"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 eagerly 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.
Case closed and dismissed.
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 eagerly 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.
Case closed and dismissed.
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. And if it weren't applied to humans, well, that would completely negate the original meaning as that would imply dogs are merciless in which they aren't (most animals will back down from a fight if they lose, humans don't).
Some kid: No reply.
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. And if it weren't applied to humans, well, that would completely negate the original meaning as that would imply dogs are merciless in which they aren't (most animals will back down from a fight if they lose, humans don't).
Some kid: No reply.
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.
Dog eat dog by Mary Mary Quite The Contrarian August 3, 2021
dog-eat-dog world
- I just can't believe I lost my fortune because some dumbass invented something better and took all my clients.
- What did you expect, it's a dog-eat-dog world.
- What did you expect, it's a dog-eat-dog world.
dog-eat-dog world by notspecialsnowflake September 7, 2017
More from Urban Dictionary
Surf Dracula Syndrome
A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.
For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Surf Dracula Syndrome by AOmundson June 18, 2023
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026