Idiom idiom
every dog has his day
Meaning
Everyone gets a chance at least once
Examples
“He finally won the race because every dog has his day.”
“After years of working in the background, she finally got the promotion, proving that every dog has his day.”
“Although he faced constant rejection early in his career, his recent success serves as a reminder that every dog has his day if they remain persistent.”
Origin
Ancient — Plutarch relates it to the death of Euripides; in English from the 16th century and popularised by Hamlet: 'The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.'
Last updated June 7, 2026