“Every dog has its day” is the hopeful proverb that promises a turn of fortune to everyone — even the overlooked and the underdog. Here is what it means, its long history from Plutarch to Shakespeare, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its faith in better days.
What Does “Every Dog Has Its Day” Mean?
The proverb means that everyone, no matter how lowly or unlucky, will eventually get a moment of success, recognition or good fortune. The humble “dog” stands for the ordinary or downtrodden person whose day will come at last. It is usually offered as encouragement — a reminder to be patient in hard times — though it can also be a warning to the powerful that their advantage will not last forever.
Origin of the Proverb
The saying has ancient roots. The Greek writer Plutarch, around 95 AD, recorded a version connected to the death of the playwright Euripides — even a dog, the idea went, gets its revenge. It entered English early: Richard Taverner printed “a dog hath a day” in 1539, and John Heywood included it in his proverb collection of 1562. Shakespeare gave it lasting fame in Hamlet (around 1603): “The cat will mew and dog will have his day.” Over the centuries its meaning softened from revenge to simple opportunity — the promise that everyone’s turn comes round.
Examples in a Sentence
- “He was passed over for years, but he finally got the promotion — every dog has its day.”
- “Keep training; every dog has its day, and yours is coming.”
- “The little team beat the champions at last. Every dog has its day.”
Similar Proverbs
- Good things come to those who wait — patience is rewarded in time.
- Every cloud has a silver lining — even hard times hold some hope.
- The worm will turn — even the meekest will eventually stand up for themselves.
- Fortune’s wheel is ever turning — luck rises and falls for everyone.
For more encouraging sayings, see our hope proverbs and inspirational sayings, or browse the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “every dog has its day” mean?
It means that everyone, however lowly or unlucky, will eventually have a moment of success or good fortune. It is usually said to encourage patience in hard times.
Did Shakespeare write it?
Shakespeare used it in Hamlet around 1603, but he did not invent it — the proverb was already in English by 1539, and the idea goes back to Plutarch in ancient Greece.
Is it “its day” or “his day”?
Both are used. The older form is “every dog has his day”; “its day” is the more common modern version. They mean exactly the same thing.