Idiom
Every dog has its day
Every dog has its day means that everyone, even an unlucky or overlooked person, will have a moment of success at some point.
How people use it
People say it to encourage someone who is struggling ("Don't worry, every dog has its day") or to describe an underdog's surprising win. It can also be a mild warning to someone who is on top now: their moment will pass, and others will get theirs. The tone is informal and proverbial. You may also hear "every dog has his day," an older form. Write its with no apostrophe, since it means belonging to it.
Also said: every dog has his day.
Examples
- Our town's tiny soccer team finally beat the champions; every dog has its day.
- Leo hasn't won a single race this season, but every dog has its day.
- My older brother always won at chess, but I finally beat him last night, so every dog has its day.
Where it comes from
It is a very old proverb, found in English by the 1500s and in similar forms in ancient Greek and Latin writing. Shakespeare used a version in Hamlet, where the prince says that the cat will mew and dog will have his day. The idea is that even a humble stray dog will get a lucky moment.
Check yourself
1. What does every dog has its day mean?
Answer: Everyone gets a moment of success eventually. The proverb says even unlucky people will have their turn to shine.
2. Which situation fits the saying best?
Answer: A team that always loses finally wins a big game. The saying describes an underdog finally getting a moment of success.
Similar idioms
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