ENGLISH
REFERENCE

eat one's own dog food

idiom
Meaning

To use or consume the economic goods or services that one is producing; to be part of a closed household economy.


Origin

disputed origin

From dog food (“beta software”).

Examples
SIMPLE

The software company makes its employees eat their own dog food.

CONTEXTUAL

Before releasing the app to customers, the developers spent a month eating their own dog food to find bugs.

COMPLEX

The farm had long prided itself on eating its own dog food, growing every vegetable and raising every animal that graced its table.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

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