ENGLISH
REFERENCE

every dog has his day

idiom
Meaning

Everyone gets a chance at least once


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.'

Examples
SIMPLE

He finally won the race because every dog has his day.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of working in the background, she finally got the promotion, proving that every dog has his day.

COMPLEX

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.

Last updated June 7, 2026