- Meaning
- This idiom describes a situation where individuals prioritize their own interests or survival over collective welfare, often in chaotic or competitive circumstances. It suggests a breakdown of cooperation, with each person fending for themselves, like in a crisis or cutthroat environment. The phrase is used in social, economic, or emergency contexts, often with a cynical or urgent tone, reflecting the harsh reality of self-preservation and the erosion of solidarity in desperate times.
- Origin
- The phrase has roots in maritime disasters, where sailors might abandon ship with the cry ‘Every man for himself!’ It appeared in English by the 14th century, with Geoffrey Chaucer’s *The Knight’s Tale* (1387) using a similar phrase: ‘Everich of hem for himself.’ The modern form was common by the 16th century, as seen in maritime records and William Shakespeare’s *The Tempest* (1611). Its use grew in the 19th century, particularly during economic upheavals, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Hard Times* (1854). The phrase’s association with survivalist instincts ensured its spread in American English, especially in frontier and capitalist contexts, resonating in literature and film.
- Variants
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- Every man for himself
- Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost
- Each man for himself
- Every one for himself
- Examples
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- When the company collapsed, it was every man for himself as employees scrambled for new jobs.
- In the chaotic evacuation, it was every man for himself, with people rushing to safety.
- Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost—that’s the vibe in this cutthroat industry.
- Each man for himself, they fought over the last supplies during the shortage.
- Every one for himself, the team abandoned teamwork to secure individual bonuses.
- It was every man for himself in the stock market crash, with investors selling off shares.
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