The phrase dog eat dog describes a situation where people compete fiercely. Everyone looks out for themselves and doesn't care about the people they are competing against. It suggests a tough environment where winning matters the most.
The phrase comes from an old Latin saying dog does not eat dog, which meant that people in the same group would not harm each other, but the modern expression has evolved to mean the opposite.
The phrase comes from an old Latin saying dog does not eat dog, which meant that people in the same group would not harm each other, but the modern expression has evolved to mean the opposite.
It can be dog eat dog in some industries.