IdiomAnimals
English
Englishthe law of the jungle
Meaning: A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
Example: “In the car park after the concert, it was the law of the jungle.”
Origin: Popularized by Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1894) and its poem "The Law of the Jungle," though there it is an orderly code. The "every man for himself" sense came later.
Equivalents in other languages
Swedish: djungelns lag Literally: The jungle's law
More English idioms
- get one's hands on something To obtain something, often with difficulty.
- dig one's own grave To cause one's own downfall.
- come in handy To be useful when needed.
- like two peas in a pod Very similar in looks or character.
- put someone in their place To remind someone firmly that they are not as important as they think.
- play for high stakes To take part in something where a great deal can be won or lost.
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