dogs of war

dogs of war

1. The chaos that accompanies war. Yes, but don't you think that a violent action like that will free the dogs of war?
2. Mercenaries. If we can't find enough willing soldiers, we'll have to turn to the dogs of war.
See also: dog, of, war
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

dogs of war

1 the havoc accompanying military conflict. literary 2 mercenary soldiers.
This phrase is from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: ‘let slip the dogs of war’. The image is of hunting dogs being loosed from their leashes to pursue their prey.
2 1998 Times The good guys…may have broken the rules by employing dogs of war.
See also: dog, of, war
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • declare war
  • declare war on
  • declare war on (someone or something)
  • press the button
  • the late unpleasantness
  • unpleasantness
  • late unpleasantness
  • take the King's shilling
  • take the King's/Queen's shilling
  • fortunes of war
References in periodicals archive
Israel, and the US, benefit economically through conflict in the region and the military-industrial complex, led by the dogs of war in Washington, has an insatiable appetite for blood and oil.
Conversations around the bulk of our security apparatus coming from a section of the country haven't solved insecurities because the dogs of war are being unchained by lack of dialogue.
The horrors of war cannot be described in words.The dogs of war have unleashed a sea of blood that cannot be stemmed.
But now we see that even the dogs of war that once saved so many of our boys lives, are rewarded with a bullet to the back of the head.
The 55-year-old was one of Everton's famous trio of midfield battler's nicknamed the 'Dogs of War' by Blues boss Joe Royle in the 1990s when they won the FA Cup.
There are 34 songs here in all including Solid Ball Of Rock, Altar Of The Gods, Dogs Of War, Unleash The Beast, Metalhead, Dragon's Lair, Witchfinder General, Lionheart, Battalions Of Steel and Demon JAMES WARREN: INNOCENT BYSTANDER (ANGEL AIR) James Warren found fame in 1979 as lead singer with The Korgis, when their single If I Had You made the UK top 20.
Merrill; A Happy Medium by Freddie Milano; Bait by Isabelle Drake; Bloody Line by Carolyn Haven; Devil's in the Well by Harley Easton; A Ferocious Blossom by Marie Piper; Kissing Summer by Megan Hart; If I Only Knew By Genevieve Williams; Animals by Sue Ayers; Dogs of War by Andrew Robertson; The Music Man by Kimberlie L.
Dogs Of War CHRISTOPHER Walken played a mercenary involved in a military coup in a small African nation Frederick Forsyth took the title from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war." The words are spoken by Marc Anthony after the assassination of Julius Caesar and the line was also used in publicity for the film.
Orson Welles and Jeanne Moreau in Chimes at Midnight left, and Christopher Walken in Dogs of War, right
Even before the August recess on Capitol Hill, the dogs of war, unleashed by remote control from Tel Aviv, predictably are trying to tear the Iran-P5+1 nuclear deal to shreds from all sides.
Their topics include chattel, this side of the grave, gone to Texas, William Barret Travis, shadowing legends, dogs of war, the wolf, besieged, the defining hour, between two worlds, from the ashes, legendary journey, and shadows and ghosts.
"I'm the only one that cared about you and that all ended one hour ago," barks Shawn, unleashing his mob dogs of war including an assassin called Price (Common) to hunt down Jimmy and his boy.
One song, The Dogs of War, refers to the 20,000-or-so dogs used by Britain and its allies to work as messengers or trained to find the wounded and dying on battlefields, equipped with medical supplies to aid those suffering.
Danny endures constant danger as he is chased by the Dogs of War, nearly scorched in a fire, and left for dead more than once.
Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war! This was my instinctual response to reports of the alleged execution of James Foley in apparent cold blood.