Have a dog in this fight
Meaning: To have a personal stake or interest in the outcome of a dispute.
Used to declare whether you have a personal interest in a controversy or not. Saying 'I don't have a dog in this fight' means you're neutral and the outcome doesn't affect you personally. Often used to establish objectivity before offering an opinion.
Examples
- I don't have a dog in this fight — I just think both sides make valid points. 这件事跟我没关系——我只是觉得双方说的都有道理。Yo no tengo ningún interés en este asunto — simplemente creo que ambas partes tienen argumentos válidos.この件に関して私は利害関係がないよ——ただ両方の意見にも一理あると思うだけ。이 건에 관해 나는 이해관계가 없어 — 그냥 양쪽 다 일리가 있다고 생각할 뿐이야.
- She definitely has a dog in this fight since her husband works for that company. 她肯定跟这件事有利害关系,因为她老公在那家公司工作。Ella claramente tiene intereses en este asunto, ya que su marido trabaja para esa empresa.彼女は確実にこの件に利害関係がある。旦那さんがあの会社で働いているからね。그녀는 확실히 이 건에 이해관계가 있어. 남편이 그 회사에서 일하니까.
- I have no dog in this fight, but if you want my honest opinion, go with option B. 这件事跟我毫无关系,但如果你想听我的真心话,选方案B吧。No me va nada en esto, pero si quieres mi opinión sincera, quédate con la opción B.この件に関して私は何の利害もないけど、正直な意見を言うなら選択肢Bがいいと思う。이 건에 나는 아무 이해관계도 없지만, 솔직한 의견을 원한다면 B안이 좋을 것 같아.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: debates, politics, disputes
Tone: neutral, declarative
✓ Do Say
- I don't have a dog in this fight.这件事跟我没有利害关系。Yo no tengo intereses en este asunto.この件に関して私は利害関係がないよ。나는 이 건에 이해관계가 없어.
- Does she have a dog in this fight?她在这件事上有利益相关吗?¿Ella tiene algo que ganar o perder en esto?彼女はこの件に利害関係があるの?그녀는 이 건에 이해관계가 있어?
✗ Don't Say
- The dogfighting origin is violent — some people prefer alternatives like 'I don't have a stake in this'这个表达的斗狗起源比较暴力——有些人更喜欢用'I don't have a stake in this'这样的替代说法El origen de la expresión está en las peleas de perros, que son violentas — algunas personas prefieren alternativas como 'no me juego nada en esto'闘犬に由来する暴力的な表現なので、「I don't have a stake in this(この件に利害関係がない)」のような別の言い方を好む人もいる투견의 기원이 폭력적이다 — 일부 사람들은 'I don't have a stake in this' 같은 대안을 선호한다
Origin & History
From the brutal practice of dogfighting in the American South. If you had 'a dog in the fight,' you had wagered on a specific animal and cared about the outcome. The figurative use became common in American political speech by the 1990s.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s-present
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Especially common in Southern American speech
More From This Topic
More from Classic Americana
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free