Dog does not eat dog Meaning in English

expression

US

DAWG duz not eet DAWG

UK

DOG dohz not EET DOG

Definition

This expression means that members of the same group or profession usually do not harm or betray each other.

Usage & Nuances

This phrase is usually used in formal or semi-formal contexts and is often about professional or competitive groups. Most common in legal, business, or political conversations. Can be seen as slightly cynical, implying silent mutual protection.

• Spanish: entre bomberos no se pisan la manguera - perro no come perro
• Portuguese (BR): camarão que dorme a onda leva (não exato) - um lobo não come outro lobo (raro) - cão não come cão
• Portuguese (PT): cão não come cão
• Chinese (Simplified): 同类不相残 - 狗不吃狗
• Chinese (Traditional): 同類不相殘 - 狗不喫狗
• Hindi: एक कुत्ता दूसरे कुत्ते को नहीं खाता
• Arabic: الكلب لا يأكل الكلب
• Bengali: আপনজন আপনজনকে কষ্ট দেয় না - একই পেশার মানুষ একে অপরকে ক্ষতি করে না
• Russian: волк волку не волк (более буквально: собака собаку не ест) - свои своих не трогают
• Japanese: 同じ穴のムジナ（おなじあなのムジナ） - 身内に甘い
• Vietnamese: người trong cùng nhóm không hại nhau - chó không ăn thịt chó (nghĩa bóng)
• Korean: 동류끼리는 해치지 않는다 - 식구는 식구를 건드리지 않는다
• Turkish: çamura yatmaz - aynı meslektekiler birbirine zarar vermez
• Urdu: ہمدرد ہمدرد کا نقصان نہیں کرتا - پیشہ ور لوگ ایک دوسرے کو نقصان نہیں پہنچاتے
• Indonesian: sesama teman tidak saling menjatuhkan - anjing tidak makan anjing (makna kiasan)

Example Sentences

In court, dog does not eat dog is often true among lawyers.

basic

The expression dog does not eat dog means colleagues usually protect each other.

basic

In politics, dog does not eat dog can explain why scandals are covered up.

basic

You can't expect them to testify against each other—dog does not eat dog, after all.

natural

When big companies compete, sometimes dog does not eat dog and they make secret deals.

natural

I’m not surprised the police didn’t investigate their own—the mentality of dog does not eat dog runs deep.

natural