dog-eat-dog

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(dôg'ēt-dôg', dŏg'ēt-dŏg')
adj.
Ruthlessly acquisitive or competitive: a dog-eat-dog society.


Ruthless acquisition or competition, as in With shrinking markets, it's dog eat dog for every company in this field. This contradicts a Latin proverb which maintains that dog does not eat dog, first recorded in English in 1543. Nevertheless, by 1732 it was put as "Dogs are hard drove when they eat dogs" (Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia).

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Crufts Dog Show

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Great Dane and Chihuahua  
Great Dane and Chihuahua
It's a dog-eat-dog world as they gather for day 1 of the world's largest canine competition, the Crufts Dog Show, held annually in Birmingham, England. Last year's Best in Show was a Whippet named Deedee. More than 21,000 dogs are vying for her place.

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From our Archives: Today's Highlights, March 10, 2005

When the market for a good or service is ruthlessly competitive.

Investopedia Says:
Electronics retail is often thought to be a dog eat dog market. Blockbuster sales every weekend, bashing competitor products, and "lowest price guaranteed" tactics are characteristics of dog eat dog competition.

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Mentioned in

dog (Idiom)
Forever Rock, Vol. 3 (1996 Album by Various Artists)
Shining Path (Rock Band, '90s)
Dog Eat Dog/Wild Things Run Fast (1996 Album by Joni Mitchell)