a dog-eat-dog business from start to finish, with each side playing a fast and underhanded game — F. B. Gipson 自始至终都是狗咬狗的勾当, 双方都在迅速而秘密的玩弄花样 (《英汉辞海》, p. 1522) 请问将上面的 dog-eat-dog 译为“狗咬狗的”是否恰当?
英语的 dog-eat-dog 或 dog eat dog 与汉语的“狗咬狗”是“貌合”而“神离”的。
第一，汉语的“狗咬狗”含义比较狭窄，只用于反面人物之间的争斗，例如“帝国主义狗咬狗的战争”。而英语的 dog eat dog 则意义比较广泛，可用于指社会生活各个方面的竞争，如生存竞争、商业竞争、体育竞赛等等。
-
a raw tough city where dog-eat-dog was the law (New Republic) 以残酷竞争为法则的粗野无情的城市
-
During the California gold rush, men had a dog-eat-dog life. (DAI) 在加州淘金热时期人们过着残酷竞争的生活。
-
Clark explains: “Rugby League is a game of survival. It's dog eat dog...” 克拉克解释说: “联盟制橄榄球赛是生存的竞赛。这是残酷无情的竞争……”
第二，汉语的“狗咬狗”总是含有贬义，而英语的 dog-eat-dog 有时并不含有贬义：
-
As the proverb goes: “Dog does not eat dog.” They compromised with one another finally. 正如谚语所说：“同类不相残。”他们终于互相让步了。
-
You need a strong character to survive the dog eat dog of big business. 为了在残酷无情
的商业竞争中生存下去你需要具有坚强的性格。