every man for himself
The phrase 'every man for himself' originated from the nautical context where it was used during shipwrecks to signal that individuals should focus on saving themselves.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic, informal)A situation where each person must take care of themselves without relying on others.
Example
- In the chaos of the market crash, it was every man for himself.
- When the alarm went off, it became every man for himself as people scrambled to evacuate.
C1Nautical
(historical, technical)A command given during a shipwreck indicating that crew members should abandon their duties and focus on saving their own lives.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "every man for himself":