Phrase guide

every man for himself

adj · phrase · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈɛv.(ə.)ɹi mæn fɔː(ɹ)hɪmˈsɛlf/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Selfish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • I quit show business because there was too much of an every-man-for-himself attitude going on.
  • There was an every-man-for-himself attitude during the time of the Great Depression in 1930s America.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: egocentric, self-centered, solipsistic, egoistical, every man for himself, idiocentric, individualistic, interested, porkish, reptilian, selfish, selflike, selfsome, self-absorbed, self-interested, self-minded, self-seeking, self-serving

Antonyms: none provided

2

phrase

Meaning 2

A command, issued in case of shipwreck, that crew members are relieved of all duties and should try to save themselves.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: women and children first

3

phrase

Meaning 3

An expression of indifference, describing or advocating selfishness, lack of comradeship, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: كُلّ رَجُل لِنَفْسِهِ (kull rajul linafsihi) — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Catalan: campi qui pugui — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Chinese Mandarin: 人各為己 /人各为己 (rén gè wèi jǐ) — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Chinese Mandarin: 各人自掃門前雪 /各人自扫门前雪 (gèrén zì sǎo ménqiánxuě) — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Chinese Mandarin: 人不為己,天誅地滅 /人不为己 — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Chinese Mandarin: 天诛地灭 (rén bù wèi jǐ, tiān zhū dì miè) — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Czech: každý sám za sebe — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Dutch: ieder voor zich — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Finnish: pelastukoon ken voi — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • French: chacun pour soi — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • French: sauve qui peut — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • German: jeder ist sich selbst der Nächste — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Icelandic: bjargi sér nú hver sem getur — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Italian: ognun per sé — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Italian: il primo prossimo è sé medesimo — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Latin: proximus egomet mihi — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Māori: tautauāmoa — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Polish: każdy sobie rzepkę skrobie — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Portuguese: salve-se quem puder — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Portuguese: cada um sabe de si — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Portuguese: cada um por si — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Russian: ка́ждый са́м за́ себя́ (káždyj sám zá sebjá) — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Spanish: sálvese quien pueda — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Spanish: cada palo que aguante su vela — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Swedish: var och en för sig — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Swedish: rädda sig den som kan — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!
  • Thai: ตัวใครตัวมัน (dtuua-krai-dtuua-man) — forget about comradeship; save yourselves!