the law of the jungle

law of the jungle

The idea that the strongest or most merciless in a society or group will survive. The phrase comes from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. I refuse to serve as mayor without compassion, so this city will not operate according to the law of the jungle.
See also: jungle, law, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

law of the jungle

Survival of the strongest, as in The recent price war among airlines was governed by the law of the jungle. This term, alluding to the jungle as a place devoid of ethics where brutality and self-interest reign, was first used by Rudyard Kipling in The Jungle Book (1894).
See also: jungle, law, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the law of the jungle

You use the law of the jungle to describe a situation where people who are strong and do not care about harming others are most successful. The streets are subject to the law of the jungle and policing has been entrusted to private law enforcement agencies. She strongly criticized the president for what she described as his attempt to rule by the law of the jungle. Note: This phrase became popular from `The Jungle Book' by Rudyard Kipling (1894). `The law of the Jungle, which never orders anything without a reason, forbids every beast to eat Man, except when he is killing to show his children how to...'. Instead of encouraging aggression, this law actually places limits on the use of violence in the animal kingdom.
See also: jungle, law, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the law of the jungle

the principle that those who are strong and apply ruthless self-interest will be most successful.
1989 Bessie Head Tales of Tenderness & Power And at the beer tank the law of the jungle prevailed, the stronger shoving the weaker.
See also: jungle, law, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌlaw of the ˈjungle

a situation in which people are prepared to harm other people in order to succeed: The police daren’t go into certain parts of the city. It’s the law of the jungle in there. In this business it’s the law of the jungle.
See also: jungle, law, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • law of the jungle
  • twain
  • west
  • East is East and West is West
  • East is East and West is West (and never the twain shall meet)
  • a trick worth two of (something)
  • a trick worth two of that
  • all for one, and one for all
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • a penny for them
References in periodicals archive
Rodgers says it's the law of the jungle and clubs like Leicester and today's opponents Wolves will struggle to change things.
WE'RE RODGERED!
'The regime continues to favour the law of the jungle in pursuit of any inch of political gain,' Low's spokesman said in a statement.
Jho Low alleges RM48m forfeiture of dad's bank account politically motivated
Actress Lee Yeol-eum cheered as she caught the three giant shellfish in a Thai national marine park in March on the survival TV show "The Law of the Jungle." Participants in the show then ate the clams in an episode that aired on June 30.
S.Korea actress charged in Thailand for catching giant clams
External interference and sanctions will only aggravate tension and bring back the law of the jungle," he said.
China urges countries against interfering in Venezuelan affairs
But that is the law of the jungle. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the law of the jungle is 'the code of survival in jungle life, now usually with reference to the superiority of brute force or self-interest in the struggle for survival.' In the world of animals, the golden rule is eat or be eaten.
Bo'le Ka'ja Legislators: How Did We Get Here?
From rule of law, back to the law of the jungle In civilised societies disputes are settled and perceived injustices to individuals or communities undone not by resort to force but through peaceful protests, debates in parliament or recourse to the courts of law and depending upon the nature of the issue.
Lawyers on the rampage
Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto said that the country was not under the law of the jungle and the safety of the citizens was the basic responsibility of the state.
SHC expresses displeasure over police performance
NNA - Caretaker Labor Minister, Mohammad Kabbara, said as commenting on the course of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Wednesday that void of the logic of justice, the law of the jungle would become the norm.
Kabbara on course of STL: Without justice, law of jungle becomes norm
He said there is the law of the jungle in Nawabshah, but we will allow this to be happened in Naya Pakistan.
Harassment of female students in Sindh unacceptable: Haleem Adil
Any delay in acting will allow the Saudi regime and its supporters to continue with their atrocities and effectively replace any remaining notion of human rights and decency, with the law of the jungle.
Iran's Medical Sciences Academy Lambasts UN Silence on Saudi Bombing of Yemeni Hospital
"World trade cannot base itself on the law of the jungle and the unilateral increase of tariffs is the law of the jungle" - Bruno Le Maire, French finance minister attacks the US trade policy.
They said what?
'Pakistan is being run by the law of the jungle,' he said.
PTI first time fully prepared to contest elections: Imran
He said the government 'is inviting the law of the jungle' by constantly ignoring court orders.
Mudavadi tells state to stop playing games with lecturers
However, while modern society may pride itself on replacing the law of the jungle with so-called civilised conduct, the fact is that human civilisation still views economic success as the primary marker of human achievement.
Writing With heartfelt gratitude to Women
No legal system is perfect, but each of us should ask ourselves whether we would prefer to live in a world where even our leaders are bound by laws and conventions; or would we prefer the law of the jungle? Today it is Syrians, Congolese, Southern Sudanese and the Rohingya being tortured, displaced and slaughtered in their tens of thousands; tomorrow there is little to prevent such a fate befalling ourselves.
When might is right, justice and humanity are wronged