# every dog has his day

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/every-dog-has-his-day
Updated: 2026-06-07

## 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.'

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.